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THE  SPLENDID  SPUR 


BOOKS  BY  SIR  ARTHUR  T.  QUILLER-COUCH 
Potushed  bt  CHARLES   SCRIBNERS  SONS 


Brother  Copas  . 

Lady  Qood-for-Nothing 

True  Tilda 

Major  Vigourcux 

Poison   Island 

Fort  Amity 

Old  Fires  and  Profitable  Ghosts 

Historical  Tales  from  Shakespeare 

The  Ship  of  Stars 

The  Splendid  Spur 

Dead   Alan's  Rock 

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Noughts  and  Crosses 

Wandering  Heath 

The     Astonishing      History     of 

Town        .... 
la.    [Ivory  Series] 


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.^ 


THE  SPLENDID  SPUR 


BEING  MEMOIRS  OF  THE  ADVENTURES  OF 
MR.  JOHN  MARVEL,  A  SERVANT  OF  HIS 
LATE  MAJESTY  KING  CHARLES  I.,  IN  THE 
YEARS     1642-43:     WRITTEN     BY     HIMSELF 


EDITED  IN   MODERN  ENGLISH  BY 


Q 


CHARLES   SCRIBNER'S   SONS 
NEW  YORK  1914 


Copyright,  1896,  by 
CASSELL   PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1898,  by 
CHARLES  SCR.  jNER'S  SONS 


5  1^4 

5  -I  U 

CO  ().X 

fO 

EDWARD  GWYNNE  EARDLEY-WILMOT. 

Mr  DBAS  Eddis, 

Whatever  view  a  ttory-teller  may  take  of  his  business, 
'tis  happy  when  he  can  think,  "  This  booh  of  mine  toill  pleass 
such  and  such  a  friend"  and  may  set  that  friend's  na/me  after 
the  title-page.  For  even  if  to  please  {as  some  are  beginning  to 
hold)  should  be  no  part  of  his  aim,  at  least  'twill  always  be  a 
reward  :  and  {in  unworthier  m^ods)  next  to  a  Writer  I  would 
choose  to  be  a  Lamplighter,  as  the  only  other  that  gets  so 
cordial  a  "  God  bless  him  1 "  in  the  long  winter  evenings. 

To  win  such  a  welcome  at  such  a  time  from  a  new  friend  or 
two  would  be  the  happiest  fortune  for  my  tale.  But  to  you  1 
could  wish  it  to  speak  particularly,  seeing  that  under  the  coat  of 
Jack  Makvel  beats  the  heart  of  yov/r  friend 

Q. 

Torquay, 

August  22nd,  1889. 


CONTENTS 


I.  The  Bowlino-Gbeen  of  the  "  Crown  **  .       .       .       .  1 

n.  The  Young  Man  in  the  Cloak  of  Ambeb  Satin  .       .  12 

III.  I   Find   Myself    in   a   Tavekn   Beawl;  and   babelt 

Escape           2S 

IV.  I  Take  the  Road fl. 

V.  Mt  Adventure  at  the  "  These  Oopb  "  .       .       .       •  69 

VI.  The  Fuqht  in  the  Pine  Wood       .       •       «       .       •  78 

VII.  I  Find  a  Comrade 81 

vnT,  I  Lose    the    King's  Lbitxb;    and    ak    Oabbikd   to 

Bristol 10* 

IX.  I  Break  Out  of  Prison     .              .....  126 

X-  Captain  Pottery  and  Captain  Sittlb    .       .       •       .  187 

XL  I  Ride  Down  into  Temple;   and  am  Will  Tbbatxd 

There .       .       •  175 

TTT.  How  Joan  Saved  the  Abmt  of  the  Wist  ;  and  Saw 

the  Fight  on  Beaddook  Down U8 

Xm.  I  But  a  Looking-Glass  at  Bodmin  Fair;   and  Meet 

with  Mb.  Hannibal  Tinqcomb 3W 


rili  CONTENTS. 

OHAPTMB  rA»» 

XIV.  I  Do  HO  Good  im  thi  Hoosb  of  Gurrs  .        ,        .        .213 
XV.  I  Leavk  Joan  ajjd  Fidk  to  thk  Warh    ....    226 

XVI.  Thk  Battls  or  Stamkobd  Heath 238 

XVII.  I  Meet  with  a  Happy  Adventure  by  Borniho  of  a 

Green  Light 255 

XVllL  Joan  Does  Mb  Her  Last  Service 276 

XIX.  The  Adventtjbe  of  the  Hearse 294 

The   AdventoBe  of   the    Lkdqk  ;  and  How  I  Shook 

Hands  with  My  Comradb  ......    SU 


THE  SPLENDID  SPUR 


CHAPTER   I. 

^  7  ^  /  ^ 

THE    BOWLING-GREEN    OP    THE    "  CROWN. 

He  that  has  jilted  the  Muse,  forsaking  her  gentle  pip* 
to  follow  the  drum  and  trumpet,  shall  fruitlessly  besiege 
her  again  when  the  time  comes  to  sit  at  home  and  write 
down  his  adventures.  'Tis  her  revenge,  as  I  am  ex- 
tremely sensible :  and  methinks  she  is  the  harder  to 
me,  upon  reflection  how  near  I  came  to  being  her  life- 
long servaiit,  as  you  are  to  hear. 

'Twas  on  November  29th,  A^-  1642 — a  clear,  frosty 
day — that  the  King,  with  the  Prince  of  Wales  (newly 
recovered  of  the  measles),  the  Princes  Rupert  and 
Maurice,  and  a  great  company  of  lords  and  gentlemen, 
horse  and  foot,  came  marching  back  to  us  from  Reading. 
I  was  a  scholar  of  Trinity  College  in  Oxford  at  that 
time,  and  may  begin  my  history  at  three  o'clock  on  the 
same  afternoon,  when  going  (as  my  custom  was)  to  Mr. 


S  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

Rob.  Drurj  for  my  fencing  lesson,  I  found  his  lodging* 
empty. 

They  stood  at  the  comer  of  Ship  Street,  as  you  turn 
into  the  Corn  Market — a  low  wainscotted  chamber,  ill- 
lighted  but  commodious.  "  He  is  off  to  see  the  show," 
thought  I  as  I  looked  about  me ;  and  finding  an  easy 
cushion  in  the  window,  sat  down  to  await  him.  Where 
presently,  being  tired  out  (for  I  had  been  carrying  a 
halberd  all  day  with  the  scholars'  troop  in  Magdalen 
College  Grove),  and  in  despite  of  the  open  lattice,  I  fell 
Bound  asleep. 

It  must  have  been  an  hour  after  that  I  awoke  with  a 
chill  (as  was  natural),  and  was  stretching  out  a  hand  to 
pull  the  window  close,  but  suddenly  sat  down  again  and 
fell  to  watching  instead. 

The  window  look'd  down,  at  the  height  of  ten  feet 
or  so,  upon  a  bowling-green  at  the  back  of  the  "  Crown  " 
Tavern  (kept  by  John  Davenant,  in  the  Corn  Market), 
and  across  it  to  a  rambling  wing  of  the  same  inn ;  the 
fourth  side — that  to  my  left — being  but  an  old  wall, 
with  a  broad  sycamore  growing  against  it.  'Twas 
already  twilight ;  and  in  the  darkening  house,  over 
the  green,  was  now  one  casement  brightly  lit,  the  cur- 
tains undra\vn,  and  within  a  company  of  noisy  drinkers 
round    a   table.      They  were    gaming,    as    was    easily 


THE    BOWLING-QREBW    OF   THE    "  CROWN."  8 

told  by  their  clicking  of  the  dice  and  frequent  oaths : 
and  anon  the  bellow  of  some  tipsy  chorus  would  come 
across.  'Twas  one  of  these  catches,  I  daresay,  that 
woke  me  :  only  just  now  my  eyes  were  bent,  not  towards 
the  singers,  but  on  the  stiU  lawn  between  us. 

The  sycamore,  I  have  hinted,  was  a  broad  tree,  and 
must,  in  summer,  have  borne  a  goodly  load  of  leaves  : 
but  now,  in  November,  these  were  strewn  thick  over 
the  green,  and  nothing  left  but  stiff,  naked  boughs. 
Beneath  it  lay  a  crackM  bowl  or  two  on  the  rank  turf, 
and  against  the  trunk  a  garden- bench  rested,  I  sup- 
pose for  the  convenience  of  the  players.  On  this  a  man 
was  now  seated. 

He  was  reading  in  a  little  book  ;  and  this  first 
jogged  my  curiosity  :  for  'twas  unnatural  a  man  should 
read  print  at  this  dim  hour,  or,  if  he  had  a  mind  to  try, 
should  choose  a  cold  bowling-green  for  his  purpose. 
Yet  he  seemed  to  study  his  volume  very  attentively, 
but  with  a  sharp  look,  now  and  then,  towards  the  lighted 
window,  as  if  the  revellers  disturb^  him.  His  hack 
was  partly  turn'd  to  me ;  and  what  with  this  and  the 
growing  dusk,  I  could  but  make  a  guess  at  his  face ; 
but  a  plenty  of  silver  hair  fell  over  his  fur  collar,  and 
his  shoulders  were  bent  a  great  deal.  I  judged  him 
between  fifty  and  sixty.  For  the  rest,  he  wore  a  dark, 
B  8 


THl    SPLENDID    SPUR. 


•imple  suit,  very  straitly  cut,  with  an  ample  furrM 
cloak,  and  a  hat  rather  tall,  after  the  fashion  of  the  last 
reign. 

Now,  why  the  man^s  behaviour  so  engaged  me,  I 
don't  know  :  but  at  the  end  of  half  an  hour  I  was  still 
matching  him.  By  this,  'twas  near  dark,  bitter  cold, 
ind  his  pretence  to  read  mere  fondness  :  yet  he  persevered 
— though  with  longer  glances  at  the  casement  above, 
where  the  din  at  times  was  fit  to  wake  the  dead. 

And  now  one  of  the  dicers  upsets  his  chair  with  a 
curse,  and  gets  on  his  feet.  Looking  up,  I  saw  his  fea- 
tures for  a  moment — a  slight,  pretty  boy,  scarce  above 
eighteen,  with  fair  curls  and  flushed  cheeks  like  a  girl's. 
It  made  me  admire  to  see  him  in  this  ring  of  purple, 
villainous  faces.  'Twas  evident  he  was  a  young  gentle- 
man of  quality,  as  well  by  his  bearing  as  his  handsome 
cloak  of  amber  satin  barr'd  with  black.  "  I  think  the 
devil's  in  these  dice  !  "  I  heard  him  crying,  and  a  pretty 
hubbub  all  about  him  :  but  presently  the  drawer  enters 
with  more  wine,  and  he  sits  down  quietly  to  a  fresh 
game. 

As  soon  as  'twas  started,  one  of  the  crew,  that  had 
been  playing  but  was  now  dropp'd  out,  lounges  up  from 
his  seat,  and  coming  to  the  casement  pushes  it  open  for 
fresh  air.     He  was  one  that  till  now  had  sat  in  full  view 


THE    BOWLING-GREEN    OP    THE    '' CROWN 


» 


tall  bully,  with  a  gross  pimpled  nose ;  and  led  the 
catches  in  a  bulFs  voice.  The  rest  of  the  players  paid 
no  heed  to  his  rising  ;  and  very  soon  his  shoulders  hid 
them,  as  he  leant  out,  drawing  in  the  cold  breath. 

During  the  late  racket  I  had  forgot  for  a  while  my 
friend  under  the  sycamore,  but  now,  looking  that  way, 
to  my  astonishment  I  saw  him  risen  from  his  bench  and 
stealing  across  to  the  house  opposite.  I  say  "  stealing," 
for  he  kept  all  the  way  to  the  darker  shadow  of  the  wall, 
and  besides  had  a  curious  trailing  motion  with  his  left 
foot  as  though  the  ankle  of  it  had  been  wrung  or  badly 
hurt. 

As  soon  as  he  was  come  beneath  the  window  he 
stopped  and  called  softly — 

"  Hist  I » 

The  bully  gave  a  start  and  look*d  down.  I  could 
tell  by  this  motion  he  did  not  look  to  find  any  one 
in  the  bowling-green  at  that  hour.  Indeed  he  had  been 
watching  the  shaft  of  light  thrown  past  him  by  the 
room  behind,  and  now  moved  so  as  to  let  it  fall  on  the 
man  that  addressed  him. 

The  other  stands  close  under  the  window,  as  if  to 
avoid  this,  and  calls  again — 

"  Hist ! "  says  he,  and  beckons  with  a  finger. 

The  man  at  the   window  still  held  his  tongue   (I 


THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 


suppose  because  those  in  the  room  would  hear  him  if  he 
spoke) J  and  so  for  a  while  the  two  men  studied  one 
another  in  silence,  as  if  considering  their  next  moves. 

After  a  bit,  however,  the  bully  lifted  a  hand,  and 
turning  back  into  the  lighted  room,  walks  up  to  one  of 
the  players,  speaks  a  word  or  two  and  disappears. 

I  sat  up  on  the  window-seat,  where  till  now  I  had 
been  crouching  for  fear  the  shaft  of  light  should  betray 
me,  and  presently  (as  I  was  expecting)  heard  the  latch 
of  the  back-porch  gently  lifted,  and  spied  the  heavy 
form  of  the  bully  coming  softly  over  the  grass. 

Now,  I  would  not  have  my  readers  prejudiced,  and 
so  may  tell  them  this  was  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  had 
played  the  eaves-dropper.  That  I  did  so  now  I  can 
never  be  glad  enough,  but  'tis  true,  nevertheless,  my 
conscience  pricked  me  ;  and  I  was  even  making  a  motion 
to  withdraw  when  that  occurred  which  would  have  fixed 
any  man's  attention,  whether  he  wish'd  it  or  no. 

The  bully  must  have  closed  the  door  behind  him 
but  carelessly,  for  hardly  could  he  take  a  dozen  steps 
when  it  opened  again  with  a  scufile,  and  the  large  house- 
dog belonging  to  the  "  Crown  "  flew  at  his  heels  with  a 
vicious  snarl  and  snap  of  the  teeth. 

'Twas  enough  to  scare  the  coolest.  But  the  fellow 
tum'd  as  if  shot,  and  before  he  could  snap  again,  had 


THE    BOWLING-GKEEN    OF   THE    "  CROWN 


» 


gripped  him  fairly  by  the  throat.  The  struggle  that 
followed  I  could  barely  see,  but  I  heard  the  horrible 
sounds  of  it — the  hard,  short  breathing  of  the  man,  the 
hoarse  rage  working  in  the  dog's  throat — and  it  turned 
me  sick.  The  dog — a  mastiff — was  fighting  now  to  pull 
loose,  and  the  pair  swayed  this  way  and  that  in  the 
dusk,  panting  and  murderous. 

I  was  almost  shouting  aloud — feeling  as  though 
'twere  my  own  throat  thus  gripped — when  the  end  came. 
The  man  had  his  legs  planted  well  apart.  I  saw  his 
shoulders  heave  up  and  bend  as  he  tightened  the  pres- 
sure of  his  fingers  ;  then  came  a  moment's  dead  silence, 
then  a  hideous  gurgle,  and  the  mastiff  dropped  back,  his 
hind  legs  trailing  limp. 

The  bully  held  him  so  for  a  full  minute,  peering 
close  to  make  sure  he  was  dead,  and  then  without  loosen- 
ing his  hold,  dragged  him  across  the  grass  under  my 
window.  By  the  sycamore  he  halted,  but  only  to  shift 
his  hands  a  little ;  and  so,  swaying  on  his  hips,  sent  the 
carcase  with  a  heave  over  the  wall.  I  heard  it  drop  with 
a  thud  on  the  far  side. 

During  this  fierce  wrestle — which  must  have  lasted 
about  two  minutes — the  clatter  and  shouting  of  the 
company  above  had  gone  on  without  a  break;  and  all 
this  while  the  man  with  the  white  ha,ir  had  rested  quietly 


5  THE    SPLENDID    SPUIL 

on  oue  side,  watching.  But  now  he  steps  up  to  wiert 
the  bully  stood  moj)piug  his  face  (for  all  the  coolness  of 
the  evening),  and,  with  a  linger  between  the  leaves  of 
his  book,  bows  very  politely. 

"  You  handled  that  dog,  sir,  choicely  well,''  says  he, 
in  a  thin  voice  that  seemed  to  have  a  chuckle  hidden  in 
it  somewhere. 

The  other  ceased  mopping  to  get  a  good  look  at 
him. 

"  But  sure,"  he  went  on,  "  'twas  hard  on  the  poor 
cur,  that  had  never  heard  of  Captain  Lucius  Higgs '* 

I  thought  the  bully  would  have  had  him  by  the 
windpipe  and  pitched  him  after  the  mastiff,  so  fiercely 
he  tum'd  at  the  sound  of  this  name.  But  the  old  gen- 
tleman skipped  back  quite  nimbly  and  held  up  a  finger. 

"I'm  a  man  of  peace.  If  another  title  suits  you 
better " 

"  Where  the  devil  got  you  that  name  ?  *'  growled  the 
bully,  and  had  half  a  mind  to  come  on  again,  but  the 
other  put  in  briskly — 

"  I'm  on  a  plain  errand  of  business.  No  need,  as 
you  hint,  to  mention  names ;  and  therefore  let  me  pre- 
sent myself  as  Mr.  Z.  The  residue  of  the  alphabet  is  at 
your  service  to  pick  and  choose  from. 

"My   name   is   Luke    Settle,"    said  the    big   man 


THE    BOWLING-GREEN    OF   THE    "  CROWN.  9 

hoaj.'sely  (but  whether  this  was  his  natural  voice  or  no  1 
could  not  tell). 

"  Let  us  say  *  Mr.  X.'     I  prefer  it." 

The  old  gentleman,  as  he  said  this,  popped  his  head 

on  one  side,  laid  the  forefinger  of  his  right  hand  across 

the  book,  and  seem'd  to  be  considering. 

"  Why  did  you  throttle  that  dog  a  minute  ago  ?  " 
he  asked  sharply. 

"  Why,  to  save  my  skin,"  answers  the  fellow,  a  bit 
puzzled. 

"  Would  you  have  done  it  for  fifty  pounds  ?  " 

«  Aye,  or  half  that." 

"  And  how  if  it  had  been  a  ptoppy,  Mr.  X  ?  " 

Now  all  this  from  my  hiding  I  had  heard  very 
clearly,  for  they  stood  right  under  me  in  the  dusk.  But 
as  the  old  gentleman  paused  to  let  his  question  sink  in, 
and  the  bully  to  catch  the  drift  of  it  before  answering, 
one  of  the  dicers  above  struck  up  to  sing  a  catch — 

"  With  a  hey,  trolly-lolly !  a  leg  to  the  Devil, 
And  answer  him  civil,  and  off  with  your  cap : 
Sing— Hey,  trolly-lolly !    Good-morrow,  Sir  Evil, 

We've  finished  the  tap, 
And,  saving  your  worship,  we  care  not  a  rap ! " 

While  this  din  continued,  the  stranger  held  up  one 
forefinger  again,  as  if  beseeching  silence,  the  other  re- 
maining still  between  the  pages  of  his  book. 


10  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 


i( 


Pretty  boys !  "  he  said,  as  the  noise  died  away  j 
**  pretty  boys  I  'Tis  easily  seen  they  have  a  bird  to 
pluck/' 

"  He's  none  of  my  plucking." 

"  And  if  he  were,  why  not  ?  Sure  you've  picked 
a  feather  or  two  before  now  in  the  Low  Countries — 
hey?'' 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,"  interrupts  the  big  man,  "  next 
time  you  crack  one  of  your  death's-head  jokes,  over  the 
wall  you  go  after  the  dog.     What's  to  prevent  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  this,"  answers  the  old  fellow,  cheerfully. 
"There's  money  to  be  made  by  doing  no  such  thing. 
And  I  don't  carry  it  all  about  with  me.  So,  as  'tis  late, 
we'd  best  talk  business  at  once." 

They  moved  away  towards  the  seat  under  the  syca- 
more, and  now  their  words  reached  me  no  longer — only 
the  low  murmur  of  their  voices  or  (to  be  correct) 
of  the  elder  man's :  for  the  otlier  only  spoke  now  and 
then,  to  put  a  question,  as  it  seemed.  Presently  I  heard 
an  oath  rapped  out,  and  saw  the  bully  start  up.    "Hush, 

man  !  "  cried  the  other,  and    "  hark-ye  now "  ;    so 

he  sat  down  again.  Their  very  forms  were  lost  within 
the  shadow.  I,  myself,  was  cold  enough  by  this  time 
and  had  a  rramp  in  one  leg — but  lay  still,  never- 
theless.    And  after  awhile  they  stood  up  together,  and 


THE    BOWLING-GREEN    OF    THE    "  CROWN."  11 

same  pacing  across  the  bowling-green,  side  by  side,  the 
older  man  trailing  his  foot  painfully  to  keep  step.  You 
may  be  sure  I  strain'd  my  ears. 

" besides  the  pay,^'  the  stranger  was  saying, 

"  there's  all  you  can  win  of  this  young  fool,  Anthony, 
and  all  you  find  on  the  pair,  which  I'll  wager " 

They  passed  out  of  hearing,  but  turned  soon,  and 
came  back  again.  The  big  man  was  speaking  this 
time. 

"  I'll  be  shot  if  I  know  what  game  you're  playing  Id 
this." 

The  elder  chuckled  softly.  "  TU  be  shot  if  I  mean 
you  to,"  said  he.  ,- 

And  this  was  the  last  I  heard.  For  How  there  came 
a  clattering  at  the  door  behind  me,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Drury  reeled  in,  hiccuping  a  maudlin  ballad  about  "Tib 
and  young  Colin,  one  fine  day,  beneath  the  hay-cock 
shade-a,"  &c.,  &c.,  and  cursing  to  find  his  fire  gone  out, 
and  all  in  darkness.  Liquor  was  ever  his  master,  and 
to-day  the  King's  health  had  been  a  fair  excuse.  He 
did  not  spy  me,  but  the  roar  of  his  ballad  had  startled 
the  two  men  outside,  and  so,  while  he  was  stumbling 
over  chairs,  and  groping  for  a  tinder-box,  I  slipt  out 
in  the  darkness,  and  down -stairs  into  the  street. 


IS 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    YOUNG    MAN   IN   THE    CLOAK    OP    AMBER    SATIN. 

Guess,  any  of  you,  if  these  events  disturbed  my  rest 
that  night.  ^Twas  four  o'clock  before  I  dropped  asleep 
in  my  bed  in  Trinity,  and  my  last  thoughts  were  still  busy 
with  the  words  I  had  heard.  Nor,  on  the  morrow,  did 
it  fare  any  better  with  me  :  so  that,  at  rhetoric  lecture, 
our  president — Dr.  Ralph  Kettle — took  me  by  the  ears 
before  the  whole  class.  He  was  the  fiercer  upon  me  as- 
being  older  than  the  gross  of  my  fellow-scholars,  and 
(as  he  thouo-Lrt)  the  more  restless  under  disci])line.  "  A 
tutor'd  adolescence,"  he  would  say,  "  is  a  fair  grace 
before  meat,"  and  had  his  hour-glass  enlarged  to  point 
the  moral  for  us.  But  even  a  rhetoric  lecture  must  have 
an  end,  and  so,  tossing  my  gown  to  the  porter,  I  si?t  off 
it  last  for  Magdalen  Bridge,  where  the  new  barrioado 
vas  l)\iilding,  along  the  Physic  Garden,  in  front  of  East 
(iate. 

The  day  was  dull  and  lowering,  though  my  wit« 
were  too  busy  to  heed  the  sky ;  but  scarcely  was  I 
past  the  small  gate  in  the  city  wall  when  a  brisk  shower 
of  hail  and  sleet  drove  me  to  shelter  in  the  Pig  Market 


THB  YOUNG  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK  OF  AMBER  SATIN.   13 

(or  Proscholium)  before  the  Divinity  School.  'Tis  an 
ample  vaulted  passage,  as  I  daresay  you  know;  and 
here  I  found  a  great  company  of  people  already  driven 
by  the  same  cause. 

To  describe  them  fully  ^t would  be  necessary  to  paint 
the  whole  state  of  our  city  in  those  distracted  times,  which 
I  have  neither  wit  nor  time  for.  But  here,  to-day,  along 
with  many  doctors  and  scholars,  were  walking  courtiers^ 
troopers,  mountebanks,  cut-purses,  astrologers,  rogues 
and  gamesters ;  together  with  many  of  the  first  ladies 
and  gentlemen  of  England,  as  the  Prince  Maurice,  the 
lords  Andover,  Digby  and  Colepepper,  my  lady  Thynne, 
Mistress  Fanshawe,  Mr.  Secretary  Nicholas,  the  famous 
Dr.  Harvey,  arm-in-arm  with  my  lord  Falkland  (whose 
boots  were  splash'd  with  mud,  he  having  ridden  over 
from  his  house  at  Great  Tew),  and  many  such,  all  mixt 
in  this  incredible  tag-rag.  Mistress  Fanshawe,  as  I  re- 
member, was  playing  on  a  lute,  which  she  carried 
always  slung  about  her  shoulders  :  and  close  beside  her, 
a  fellow  impudently  puflBng  his  specific  against  the 
morbus  canipestris,  which  already  had  begun  to  invade 
us. 

"Who'll  buy?"  he  was  bawling.  "'Tia  from  the 
receipt  of  a  famous  Italian,  and  never  yet  failed  mun, 
woman,  nor  child,  unless  the  heart  were  clean  drown' d  %n 


14  THE    SPLENDID    SPUB, 

the  disease:  the  best  part  of  it  good  muscadine,  and  hat 
virtue  against  the  plague,  small-pox,  or  surfeits!*' 

I  was  standing  before  this  jackamipes,  when  I  heard 
a  stir  in  the  crowd  behind  me,  and  another  calHng, 
"  Who'll  hiy  ?      Who'll  h uy  ?  " 

Turning,  I  saw  a  young  man,  very  gaily  drest, 
moving  quickly  about  at  the  far  end  of  the  Pig  Market, 
and  behind  him  an  old  lackey,  bent  double  with  the 
weight  of  two  great  baskets  that  he  carried.  The 
baskets  were  piled  with  books,  clothes,  and  gewgaws  of 
all  kinds ;  and  'twas  the  young  gentleman  that  hawked 
his  wares  himself.  ^'  What  d^ye  lack  ? "  he  kept 
shouting,  and  would  stop  to  unfold  his  merchandise, 
holding  up  now  a  book,  and  now  a  silk  doublet,  and 
running  over  their  merits  like  any  huckster — but  with 
the  merriest  conceit  in  the  world. 

And  yet  'twas  not  this  that  sent  my  heart  flying  into 
my  mouth  at  the  sight  of  him.  For  by  his  curls  and 
womanish  face,  no  less  than  the  amber  cloak  with  the 
black  bars,  I  knew  him  at  once  for  the  same  I  had  seen 
yesterday  among  the  dicers. 

As  I  stood  there,  drawn  this  way  and  that  by  many 
reflections,  he  worked  his  way  through  the  press,  selling 
here  and  there  a  trifle  from  his  baskets,  and  at  bngth 
oame  to  a  halt  in  front  of  me. 


THE    yOUNG  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK  OF  AMBEB    SATIH.       15 

"  Ha  ! ''  he  cried,  pulling  off  his  plumed  hat,  and 
bowing  low,  "  a  scholar,  I  perceive.  Let  me  serve  you, 
sir.  Here  is  the  '  History  of  Saint  George,' "  and 
he  picked  out  a  thin  brown  quarto  and  held  it  up ; 
"written  by  Master  Peter  HeyHn;  a  ripe  book  they  tell 
me  (though,  to  be  sure,  I  never  read  beyond  the  title), 
and  the  price  a  poor  two  shillings.'* 

Now,  all  this  while  I  was  considering  what  to  do. 
So,  as  I  put  my  hand  in  my  pocket,  and  drew  out  the 
shillings,  I  said  very  slowly,  looking  him  in  the  eyes 
(but  softly,  so  that  the  lackey  might  not  hear) — 

"  So  thus  you  feed  your  expenses  at  the  dice  :  and 
my  shilling,  no  doubt,  is  for  Luke  Settle,  as  well  as  the 
rest.'* 

For  the  moment,  under  my  look,  he  went  white  to 
the  lips ;  then  clapped  his  hand  to  his  sword,  withdrew 
it,  and  answered  me,  red  as  a  turkey-cock — 

"  Shalt  be  a  parson,  yet,  Master  Scholar :  but  art  in 
a  damn'd  hurry,  it  seems.** 

Now,  I  had  ever  a  quick  temper,  and  as  he  turned 
on  his  heel,  was  like  to  have  replied  and  raised  a  brawl. 
My  own  meddling  tongue  had  brought  the  rebuff  upon 
me :  but  yet  my  heart  was  hot  as  he  walked  away. 

I  was  standing  there  and  looking  after  him,  turning 
over  in  my  hand  the  "  Life  of  Saint  George,**  when  my 


16  THE    SPLENDID    SPUU. 

fingers  were  aware  of  a  slip  of  paper  between  the  pages. 
Pulling  it  out,  I  saw  'twas  scribbled  over  with  writing 
and  figures,  as  follows  : — 

"  Mr,  Anthony  Killigrew,  his  ace*  for  Oct.  25"*, 
MDCXLii.  —  For  herrings,  2d. ;  for  coffie,  4d. ;  for 
tcowring  my  coat,  6d. ;  at  bowls,  5s.  lOd. ;  for  Heading 
me.  Is.  Od. ;  for  y*  King's  speech,  3d. ;  for  spic*d  wine 
{^ith  Marjory),  2s.  4d. ;  for  seeing  y'  Rhinoceros,  4d. ; 
at  y*  Ranter-go-round,  6fd.;  for  a  pair  of  silver  buttons^ 
28.  6d. ;  for  apples,  2|d. ;  for  ale,  6d. ;  at  y*  dice, 
£17  5s, ;  for  spic'd  wine  {again),  4s.  6d.'' 

And  so  on. 

As  I  glanced  my  eye  down  this  paper,  my  anger 
oozed  away,  and  a  great  feeling  of  pity  came  over  me, 
not  only  at  the  name  of  Anthony — the  name  I  had 
heard  spoken  in  the  bowling-green  last  night — but  also 
to  see  that  monstrous  item  of  £17  odd  spent  on  the 
dice.  'Twas  such  a  boy,  too,  after  all,  that  I  was  angry 
with,  that  had  spent  fourpence  to  see  the  rhinoceros  at 
a  fair,  and  rode  on  the  ranter-go-round  (with  *  Marjory,' 
no  doubt,  as  'twas  for  her,  no  doubt,  the  silver  buttons 
were  bought) .  So  that,  with  quick  forgiveness,  I  hurried 
after  him,  and  laid  a  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

He  stood  by  the  entrance,  counting  up  his  money, 
and  drew  himself  up  very  stifE. 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK  OP  AMBER  SATIN.      17 

"  I  think,  sir/^  said  I,  "  this  paper  is  yours." 

"  I  thank  you,"  he  answered,  taking  it,  and  eyeing 
me.  "  Is  there  anything,  besides,  you  wished  to 
say?" 

"  A  great  deal,  maybe,  if  your  name  be  Anthony." 

**  Master  Anthony  Killigrew  is  my  name,  sir ;  now 
serving  under  Lord  Bernard  Stewart  in  His  Majesty's 
troop  of  guards." 

"  And  mine  is  Jack  Marvel,"  said  I. 

"  Of  the  Yorkshire  Marvels  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes  ;  though  but  a  shoot  of  that  good  stock, 
transplanted  to  Cumberland,  and  there  sadly  withered." 

"  'Tis  no  matter,  sir,"  said  he  politely  ;  "  I  shall  be 
proud  to  cross  swords  with  you." 

"  Why,  bless  your  heart ! "  I  cried  out,  full  of 
laughter  at  this  childish  punctilio ;  "  d'ye  think  I  came 
to  fight  you?  " 

''If  not,  sir" — and  he  grew  colder  than  ever— 
''you  are  going  a  cursed  roundabout  way  to  avoid  it." 

Upon  this,  finding  no  other  way  out  of  it,  I  began 
my  tale  at  once  :  but  hardly  had  come  to  the  meeting  of 
the  two  men  on  the  bowling-green,  when  he  interrupts 
me  politely — 

"I  think.  Master  Marvel,  as  yours  is  like  to  be  a 
story  of  some  moment,  I  will  send  this  fellow  back  to 


18  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

my  lodo^ing's.  He's  a  long-ear'd  dog  that  I  am  saving 
from  the  gallows  for  so  long  as  my  conscience  allows  me. 
The  shower  is  done,  I  see :  so  if  you  know  of  a  retired 
spot,  we  will  talk  there  more  at  our  leisure." 

He  dismissed  his  lackey,  and  stroll'd  off  with  me  to 
the  Trinity  Grove,  where,  walking  up  and  down,  I  toM 
him  all  I  had  heard  and  seen  the  night  before. 

"  And  now,"  said  I,  "  can  you  tell  me  if  you  have 
any  such  enemy  as  this  white-hair'd  man,  with  the 
limping  gait?  " 

He  had  come  to  a  halt,  sucking  in  his  lips  and 
seeming  to  reflect — 

"  I  know  one  man,"  he  began  :  "  but  no — 'tis  im- 
possible." 

As  I  stood,  waiting  to  hear  more,  he  clapt  his  hand 
in  mine,  very  quick  and  friendly :  "  Jack,"  he  cried ; 
— "  I'll  call  thee  Jack — 'twas  an  honest  good  turn  thou 
hadst  in  thy  heart  to  do  me,  and  I  a  surly  rogue  to 
think  of  fighting — I  that  could  make  mince-meat  of 
thee." 

"  I  can  fence  a  bit,"  answer'd  I. 

"  Now,  say  no  more.  Jack  :  I  love  thee.*' 
He  look'd  in  my  face,  still    holding  my  hand  and 
gmiling.     Indeed,  there  was  something  of  the  foreigner 
in  his  brisk  graceful  ways — yet  not  unpleasing.     I  was 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK  OF  AMBER  SATIN.       19 

going  to  say  I  had  never  seen  the  like — ah,  me !    that 
both  have  seen  and  know  the  twin  image  so  well. 

"  I  think/'  said  I,  "  you  had  better  be  considering 
what  to  do/' 

He  laughM  outright  this  time ;  and  resting  with  his 
legs  cross'd,  against  the  trunk  of  an  elm,  twirFd  an  end 
of  his  long  lovelocks,  and  looked  at  me  comically.  Said 
he :  "  Tell  me,  Jack,  is  there  aught  in  me  that  offends 
thee?" 

"  Why,  no,"  I  answered.  "  I  think  you're  a  very 
proper  young  man — such  as  I  should  loathe  to  see 
Bpoird  by  Master  Settle's  knife." 

"  Art  not  quick  at  friendship.  Jack,  but  better  at 
advising  ;  only  in  this  case  fortune  has  prevented  thy 
good  offices.  Hark  ye,"  he  lean'd  forward  and  glanc'd 
to  right  and  left,  "if  these  twain  intend  my  hurt — 
as  indeed  'twould  seem — they  lose  their  labour :  for  this 
very  night  I  ride  from  Oxford." 

"  And  why  is  that  ?  " 

"  I'll  tell  thee,  Jack,  tho'  I  deserve  to  be  shot.  T 
am  bound  with  a  letter  from  His  Majesty  to  the  Army 
of  the  West,  wliere  I  have  friends,  for  my  father's  sak;- 
— Sir  Deakin  Killigrew  of  Gleys,  in  Cornwall.  'Tis  a 
sweet  country,  they  say,  tho'  I  have  never  seen  it." 

"  Not  seen  thy  father's  country  ?" 
o2 


40  THE    SPLENDID    8PD». 

"  Why  no — for  he  married  a  Frenchwoman,  Jack, 
God  rest  her  dear  soul  1  " — he  Ufted  his  hat — "  and 
settled  in  that  country,  near  Morlaix,  in  Brittany,  among 
my  mother's  kin ;  my  grandfather  refusing  to  see  or 
speak  with  him,  for  wedding  a  poor  woman  without  his 
consent.  And  in  France  was  I  born  and  bred,  and 
came  to  England  two  years  agone ;  and  this  last  July 
the  old  curmudgeon  died.  So  that  my  father,  who  was 
an  only  son,  is  even  now  in  England  returning  to  his 
estates  :  and  with  him  my  only  sister  Delia.  I  shall 
meet  them  on  the  way.  To  think  of  it !  *'  (and  I 
declare  the  tears  sprang  to  his  eyes) :  "  Delia  will  be  a 
woman  grown,  and  ah  !  to  see  dear  Cornwall  together  I  " 

Now  I  myself  was  an  only  child,  and  had  been  made 
an  orplian  when  but  nine  years  old,  by  the  small-pox 
that  visited  our  home  in  Wastdale  Village,  and  carried 
off  my  father,  the  Vicar,  and  my  dear  mother.  Yet  hia 
simple  words  spoke  to  my  heart  and  woke  so  tender  a 
yearning  for  the  small  stone  cottage,  and  the  bridge, 
and  the  grey  fells  of  Yewbarrow  above  it,  that  a  mist 
rose  in  my  eyes  too,  and  I  turnM  away  to  hide  it. 

"  'Tis  a  ticklish  business,"  said  I  after  a  minute, 
"  to  carry  the  King's  letter.  Not  one  in  four  of  his 
messengers  comes  through,  they  say.  But  since  it  keeps 
you  from  the  dice " 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  IN  THE  CLOAK  OF  AMBER  SATIN.       li 


>* 


"  That's  true.     To-night  I  make  an  end/ 

"To-night!" 

"Why,  yes.  To-night  I  go  for  my  revenge,  and 
riAe  straight  from  the  inn-door.^' 

"  Then  I  go  with  you  to  the  '  Crown/  I  cried,  very 
positive. 

He  dropped  playing  with  his  curl,  and  look'd  me 
in  the  face,  his  mouth  twitching  with  a  queer  smile. 

"  And  so  thou  shalt  Jack  :  but  why  ?  " 

"I'll  give  no  reason,"  said  I,  and  knew  I  was 
blushing. 

"  Then  be  at  the  corner  of  All  Hallows'  Church  in 
Turl  Street  at  seven  to-night.  I  lodge  over  Master 
Simon's,  the  glover,  and  must  be  about  my  affairs. 
Jack," — he  came  near  and  took  my  hand — "am  sure 
thou  lovest  me." 

He  nodded,  with  another  cordial  smile,  and  went  his 
way  up  the  grove,  his  amber  cloak  flaunting  like  a 
belated  butterfly  under  the  leafless  trees ;  and  so  pass'd 
out  of  my  sight. 


21 


CHAPTER  III. 

I   FIND    MYSELF    IN   A    TAVERN    BR-WL :     AND    BARELT 

ESCAPE. 

It  wanted,  maybe,  a  quarter  to  seven,  that  evenini,' 
when,  passing  out  at  the  College  Gate  on  my  way  to  All 
Hallows'  Church,  I  saw  under  the  lantern  there  a  man 
loitering  and  talking  with  the  porter.  'Twas  Master 
Anthony's  lackey ;  and  as  I  came  up,  he  held  out  a  note 
for  me. 

Deare  Jack 

Wee  goe  to  the  "  Crowne  "  at  VL  o'clock,  I  having  mett 
with  Captain  Settle,  who  is  on  dewty  with  the  horse  to-nite,  and 
must  to  Abendonn  by  IX.     I  looke  for  you — 

Tour  nnfajTied  loving 

A.  K. 
The  bearer  has  left  my  servise,  and  his  helth  consems  me 
nott.     Soe  kik  him  if  he  tarrie. 

This  last  advice  I  had  no  time  to  carry  out  with  any 
thoroughness :  but  being  put  in  a  great  dread  by  this 
change  of  hour,  pelted  off  towards  the  Corn  Market  as 
fast  as  legs  could  take  me,  which  was  the  undoing  of 
a  little  round  citizen  into  whom  I  ran  full-tilt  at  the 


A   TAVERN    BRAWL  28 

«orner  of  BaUiol  College  :  who^  before  I  wuld  see  his 
fa  e  in  the  darkness,  was  tippM  on  his  back  in  the 
gutl^r  and  using  the  most  dismal  expressions.  So  I 
left  him,  considering  that  my  excuses  would  be  un- 
satisfying to  his  present  demands,  and  to  ^is  cooler 
judgment  a  superfluity. 

The  windows  of  the  "  Crown "  were  cheerfully  lit 
behind  their  red  blinds.  A  few  straddling  grooms  and 
troopers  talked  and  spat  in  the  brightness  of  the 
entrance,  and  outside  in  the  street  was  a  servant  leading 
up  and  down  a  beautiful  sorrel  mare,  ready  saddled,  that 
was  marked  on  the  near  hind  leg  with  a  high  white 
stocking.  In  the  passage,  I  met  the  host  of  the 
"  Crown,^'  Master  John  Davenant,  and  sure  (I  thought) 
in  what  odd  corners  will  the  Muse  pick  up  her 
favourites !  For  this  slow,  loose-cheek'd  vintner  was 
no  less  than  father  to  Will  Davenant,  our  Laureate, 
and  had  belike  read  no  other  verse  in  his  life  but  those 
at  the  bottom  of  his  own  pint-pots. 

"Top  of  the  stairs,"  says  he,  indicating  my  way, 
**  and  open  the  door  ahead  of  you,  if  y'are  the  young 
gentleman  Master  Killigrew  spoke  of.'' 

I  had  my  foot  on  the  bottom  step,  when  from  the 
room  above  comes  the  crash  of  a  table  upsetting,  with  a 
noise  of  broken  glass,  chairs  thrust  back,  and  a  racket  of 


24  THE    SPLENDID    8PUU. 

outcries.  Next  moment,  the  door  was  burst  opeiv,  letting 
out  a  flood  of  light  and  curses  ;  and  down  flies  a  drawer, 
three  st^ps  at  a  time,  with  a  red  stain  of  wine  trickling 
down  his  white  face. 

"  Murder  I "  he  gasped  out ;  and  sitting  down  on  a 
stair,  fell  to  mopping  his  face,  all  sick  and  trembling. 

I  was  dashing  past  him,  with  the  landlord  at  my 
heels,  when  three  men  came  tumbling  out  at  the  door, 
and  down-stairs.  I  squeezed  myself  against  the  wall  to 
let  them  pass  :  but  Master  Davenant  was  pitch'd  to  the 
very  foot  of  the  stairs.  And  then  he  picked  himself  up 
and  ran  out  into  the  Corn  Market,  the  drawer  after  him, 
and  both  shouting  "  Watch  1  Watch  I  "  at  the  top  of 
their  lungs ;  and  so  left  the  three  fellows  to  push  by  the 
women  already  gathered  in  the  passage,  and  gain  the 
street  at  their  ease.  All  this  happen'd  while  a  man 
could  count  twenty;  and  in  half  a  minute  I  heard  the 
ring  of  steel  and  was  standing  in  the  doorway. 

There  was  now  no  light  within  but  what  was  shed 
by  the  fire  and  two  tallow  candles  that  gutter'd  on  the 
mantel-shelf.  The  remaining  candlesticks  lay  in  a  pool 
of  wine  on  the  floor,  amid  broken  glasses,  bottles, 
scattered  coins,  dice-boxes  and  pewter  pots.  In  the 
comer  to  my  right  cowered  a  pot-boy,  with  tankard 
dangling  in  his  hand,  and  the  contents  spilling  into  his 


A    TAVERN   BRAWL.  25 

shoes.  His  wide  terrified  eyes  were  fixt  on  the  far  end 
of  the  room,  where  Anthony  and  the  brute  Settle  stood, 
with  a  shattered  chair  between  them.  Their  swords 
were  cross'd  in  tierce,  and  grating  together  as  each 
sought  occasion  for  a  lunge :  which  might  have  been 
fair  enough  but  for  a  dog-fac'd  trooper  in  a  frowsy 
black  periwig,  who,  as  I  entered,  was  gathering  a  hand- 
ful of  coins  from  under  the  fallen  table,  and  now  ran 
across,  sword  in  hand,  to  the  Captain's  aid. 

'Twas  Anthony  that  fac'd  me,  with  his  heel  against 
the  wainscoting,  and,  catching  my  cry  of  alarm,  he  called 
out  cheerfully  over  the  Captain's  shoulder,  but  without 
lifting  his  eyes — 

"  Just  in  time.  Jack !  Take  off  the  second  cur, 
that's  a  sweet  boy  1 " 

Now  I  carried  no  sword;  but  seizing  the  tankard 
from  the  pot-boy's  hand,  I  hurl'd  it  at  the  dog-fac'd 
trooper.  It  struck  him  fair  between  the  shoulder- 
blades  ;  and  with  a  yell  of  pain  he  spun  round  and 
came  towards  me,  his  point  glittering  in  a  way  that 
turn'd  me  cold.  I  gave  back  a  pace,  snatch'd  up  a 
chair  (that  luckily  had  a  wooden  seat)  and  with  my 
back  against  the  door,  waited  his  charge. 

'Twas  in  this  posture  that,  flinging  a  glance  across 
the  room,  I  saw  the  Captain's  sword  describe  a  small 


26  THE    SPLENDID    SPUK. 

circle  of  Uglit,  and  next  moment,  with  a  ehaip  cry, 
Anthony  cau^rlit  at  the  blade,  and  staggcr'd  against  the 
wall,  pinn'd  through  the  chest  to  the  wainscoting. 

"  Out    with    the    lights,    Dick !  "    bawl'd    Settle, 
tugging  out  his  point.     "  Quick,  fool — the  window  1  " 

Dick,  with  a  back  sweep  of  his  hand,  sent  the 
candles  flying  off  the  shelf ;  and,  save  for  the  flicker  of 
the  hearth,  we  were  in  darkness.  I  felt,  rather  than  saw, 
his  rush  towards  me;  leapt  aside;  and  brought  down 
my  chair  with  a  crash  on  his  skull.  He  went  down  like 
a  nine-pin,  but  scrambled  up  in  a  trice,  and  was  running 
for  the  window.  There  was  a  shout  below  as  tts 
Captain  thrust  the  lattice  open  :  another,  and  the  t>» 
dark  forms  had  clambered  through  the  purple  square  of 
the  casement,  and  dropp'd  into  the  bowling-greea 
below. 

By  this,  I  had  made  my  way  across  the  room,  and 
found  Anthony  sunk  against  the  wall,  with  his  feet 
outstretched.  There  was  something  he  held  out  towards 
me,  groping  for  my  hand  and  at  the  same  time  whisper- 
ing in  a  thick,  choking  voice — 

"  Here,  Jack,  here  :    pocket  it  quick  ! " 

*Twa8  a  letter,  and  as  my  fingers  closed  on  it  they 
met  a  damp  smear,  the  meaning  of  which  was  but  too 
plain. 


1  TAVEEN   BRAWL.  27 


f( 


Button  it — sharp — in  thy  breast :  now  feel  for  my 
sword." 

"  First  let  me  tend  thy  hurt,  dear  lad." 

"Nay — quickly,  my  sword  !  'Tis  pretty,  Jack,  to 
hear  thee  say  Mear  lad.^  A  cheat  to  die  like  this 
— could  have  laug-h*d  for  years  yet.  The  dice  were 
eogg'd — hast  found  it  ?  " 

I  groped  beside  him,  found  the  hilt,  and  held  it  up. 

"  So— 'tis  thine,  Jack  :  and  my  mare,  Molly,  and  the 
letter  to  take.  Say  to  Delia — Hark !  they  are  on  the 
stairs.     Say  to " 

With  a  shout  the  door  was  flung  wide,  and  on  the 
threshold  stood  the  Watch,  their  lanterns  held  high  and 
shining  in  Anthony's  white  face,  and  on  the  black  stain 
where  his  doublet  was  thrown  open. 

In  numbers  they  were  six  or  eight,  led  by  a  small, 
wry-necked  man  that  held  a  long  staff,  and  wore  a  gilt 
chain  over  his  furr'd  collar.  Behind,  in  the  doorway, 
were  huddled  half  a  dozen  women,  peering  :  and  Master 
Davenant  at  the  back  of  all,  his  great  face  looming 
over  their  shoulders  like  a  moon. 

"  Now,  speak  up.  Master  Short !  " 

"  Aye,  that  I  will — that  I  will :  but  my  head  is 
considering  of  affairs,"  answered  Master  Short — he  of 
the  wry  neck.    "  One,  two,  three "    He  looked  round 


28  THE    SPLENDID    8PU1. 

the  room,  and  finding  but  one  capable  of  resisting  (for 
the  pot-boy  was  by  this  time  in  a  fit),  clearM  his  throat, 
and  spoke  up — 

"  In  the  king^s  name,  I  arrest  you  all — bo  help  me 
God  !     Now  what's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Murder,"  said  I,  looking  up  from  my  work  of 
gtaunching  Anthony's  wound. 

"  Then  forbear,  and  don't  do  it." 

"  Why,  Master  Short,  they've  been  forbearin'  these 
ten  minutes,"  a  woman's  voice  put  in. 

"  Hush,  and  hear  Master  Short :  he  knows  the  law, 
an'  all  the  dubious  maxims  of  the  same." 

"  Aye,  aye :  he  says  forbear  i'  the  king's  name, 
which  is  to  say,  that  other  forbearing  is  neither  law  nor 
grace.     Now  then.  Master  Short ! " 

Thus  exhorted,  the  man  of  law  continued — 

"  I  charge  ye  as  honest  men  to  disperse  I  " 

"Odds  truth.  Master  Short,  why  you've  just  laid 
'em  under  arrest  1 " 

"  Il'm,  true  :  then  let  'em  stay  so — in  the  king's 
name — and  have  done  with  it." 

Maister  Short,  in  fact,  was  growing  testy :  but 
now  the  women  push'd  by  him,  and,  by  screaming 
at  the  sight  of  blood,  put  him  out  of  all  patience. 
Dragging   them   back   by   the   skirts,   he   told  me  he 


▲   TAVERN   BRAWL.  %9 

must  take  the  depositions,  and  pulled  out  pen  and  ink- 
horn. 

"  Sirs/'  said  I,  laying  poor  Anthony's  head  softly 
back,  "  you  are  too  late :  whilst  ye  were  cackling  my 
friend  is  dead/* 

"  Then,  young  man,  thou  must  come  along." 

"  Come  along  ?  " 

"  The  charge  is  homocidium,  or  man-slaying,  with  or 
without  malice  prepense " 

«  But "     I   lookM   round.      The   pot-boy   was 

insensible,  and  my  eyes  fell  on  Master  Davenant,  who 
slowly  shook  his  head. 

"  I'll  say  not  a  word,''  said  he,  stolidly  :  "  lost  twenty 
pound,  one  time,  by  a  lawsuit." 

"  Pack  of  fools  !  "  I  cried,  driven  beyond  endurance. 
"  The  guilty  ones  have  escap'd  these  ten  minutes.  Now 
stop  me  who  dares  ! " 

And  dashing  my  left  fist  on  the  nose  of  a  watchman 
who  would  have  seized  me,  I  cleared  a  space  with 
Anthony's  sword,  made  a  run  for  the  casement,  and 
dropp'd  out  upon  the  bowling-green. 

A  pretty  shout  went  up  as  I  pick'd  myself  off  the 
turf  and  rush'd  for  the  back  door.  'Twas  unbarr'd,  and 
in  a  moment  I  found  myself  tearing  down  the  passage 
and   out   into   the   Corn  Market,    with   a  score  or  so 


30  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

tumbling  down-stairs  at  my  heels,  and  j'elling  to  stop 
me.  Turning  sharp  to  my  right,  I  flew  up  Ship  Street, 
and  through  the  Turl,  and  doubled  back  up  the  High 
Street,  sword  in  hand.  The  people  I  passM  were  too 
far  taken  aback,  as  I  suppose,  to  interfere.  But  a  many 
must  have  join'd  in  the  chase :  for  presently  the  street 
behind  me  was  thick  with  the  clatter  of  footsteps  and 
cries  of  "  A  thief — a  thief !     Stop  him  I '' 

At  Quater  Voies  I  tum'd  again,  and  sped  down 
towards  St.  Aldate's,  thence  to  the  left  by  Wild  Boar 
Street,  and  into  St.  Mary's  Lane.  By  this,  the  shouts 
had  grown  fainter,  but  were  still  following.  Now  I 
knew  there  was  no  possibility  to  get  past  the  city  gates, 
which  were  well  guarded  at  night.  My  hope  reach'd 
Qo  further  than  the  chance  of  outwitting  the  pursuit  for 
a  while  longer.  In  the  end  I  was  sure  the  pot-boy's 
evidence  would  clear  me,  and  therefore  began  to  enjoy 
the  fun.  Even  my  certain  expulsion  from  College  on 
the  morrow  seem'd  of  a  piece  with  the  rest  of  events 
and  (prospectively)  a  matter  for  laughter.  For  the 
»jti"uggle  at  the  "  Crown  '*  had  unhinged  my  wits,  as  I 
must  suppose  and  you  must  believe,  if  you  would  under- 
stand my  behaviour  in  the  next  half-hour. 

A  bright  thought  had  struck  me  :  and  taking  a  fresh 
wind,  I  set  off  again  round  the  corner  of  Oriel  College, 


1.   TAVERN    BRAWL.  81 

and  down  Merton  Street  towards  Master  Timothy 
Carter's  house,  my  mother's  cousin.  This  gentleman — 
who  was  town-clerk  to  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  of 
Oxford — was  also  in  a  sense  my  guardian,  holding  in 
trust  about  £200  (which  was  all  my  inheritance),  and 
spending  the  same  jealously  on  my  education.  He  was 
a  very  small,  precise  lawyer,  about  sixty  years  old, 
shaped  like  a  pear,  with  a  prodigious  self-important 
manner  that  came  of  associating  with  great  men  :  and 
all  the  knowledge  I  had  of  him  was  pick'd  up  on  the 
rare  occasions  (about  twice  a  year)  that  I  din'd  at  his 
table.  He  had  early  married  and  lost  an  aged  shrew, 
whose  money  had  been  the  making  of  him :  and  had 
more  respect  for  law  and  authority  than  any  three  men 
in  Oxford.  So  that  I  reflected,  with  a  kind  of  desperate 
hilarity,  on  the  greeting  he  was  like  to  give  me. 

This  kinsman  of  mine  had  a  fine  house  at  the  east 
end  of  Merton  Street  as  you  turn  into  Logic  Lane  :  and 
I  was  ten  yards  from  the  front  door,  and  running  my 
fastest,  when  suddenly  I  tripp'd  and  fell  headlong. 

Before  I  could  rise,  a  hand  was  on  my  shoulder,  and 
a  voice  speaking  in  my  ear — 

"  Pardon,  comrade.     We  are  two  of  a  trade,  I  see." 

'Twas  a  fellow  that  had  been  lurking  at  the  corner 
of  the  lane,  and  had  thrust  out  a  leg  as  I  passed.     He 


SSk  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

was  pricking  up  his  ears  now  to  the  cries  of  "  Thief — 
thief  I "  that  had  already  reached  the  head  of  the  street, 
and  were  drawing  near. 

"  I  am  no  thief/'  said  I. 

"  Quick  1 "  He  dragged  me  into  the  shadow  of  the 
lane.     "  Hast  a  crown  in  thy  pocket  ?  '* 

"Why?" 

"  Why,  for  a  good  turn.  I'll  fog  these  gentry  for 
thee.  Many  thanks,  comrade/'  as  I  pull'd  out  the  last 
few  shillings  of  my  pocket-money.  "  Now  pitch  thy 
sword  over  the  wall  here,  and  set  thy  foot  on  my  hand. 
'Tis  a  rich  man's  garden,  t'other  side,  that  I  was  mean- 
ing to  explore  myself ;  but  another  night  will  serve." 

"  'lis  Master  Carter's,"  said  I ;  "  and  he's  my  kins- 
man." 

"  The  devil ! — but  never  mind,  up  with  thee  I  Now 
mark  a  pretty  piece  of  play.  'Tis  pity  thou  shouldst 
be  across  the  wall  and  unable  to  see/' 

He  gave  a  great  hoist :  catching  at  the  coping  of 
the  wall,  1  pull'd  myself  up  and  sat  astride  of  it. 

"  Good  turf  below — ta-ta,  comrade  I  " 

By  now,  the  crowd  was  almost  at  the  comer. 
Dropping  about  eight  feet  on  to  good  turf,  as  the 
fellow  had  said,  I  pick'd  myself  up  and  listen'd. 

"Which  way  went  he?"  call'd  one,  as  they  came  near. 


A   TAVERN   BRAWL.  88 

"Down  the  street!''  "No:  up  the  lane!" 
"Hush!''  "Up  the  lane,  I'll  be  sworn."  "Here, 
hand  the  lantern  !  "  &e.  &c. 

While  they  debated,  my  friend  stood  close  on  the 
other  side  of  the  wall :  but  now  I  heard  him  dash 
suddenly  out,  and  up  the  lane  for  his  life.  "  There  he 
goes !  "  "  Stop  him  ! "  the  cries  broke  out  afresh. 
"  Stop  him,  i'  the  king's  name !  "  The  whole  pack 
went  pelting  by,  shouting,  stumbling,  swearing. 

For  two  minutes  or  more  the  stragglers  continued  to 
hurry  past  by  ones  and  twos.  As  soon  as  their  shouts 
died  away,  I  drew  freer  breath  and  look'd  around. 

I  was  in  a  small,  turfed  garden,  well  stock'd  with 
evergreen  shrubs,  at  the  back  of  a  tall  house  that  I 
knew  for  Master  Carter's.  But  what  puzzled  me  was  a 
window  in  the  first  floor,  very  brightly  lit,  and  certain 
sounds  issuing  therefrom  that  had  no  correspondence 
with  my  kinsman's  reputation. 

"  It  waa  a  frog  leapt  into  a  pool — 
Fol — de — riddle,  went  souse  in  the  middle  1 
Says  he,  This  is  better  than  moping  in  school. 
With  a " 


"  — Your  Royal  Highness,  have  some  pity  I      What 
hideous  folly  I     Oh,  dear,  dear " 


84  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

••  "With  a  fa— la— tweedlc— tweedle, 
Tiddifol— iddifol— ido  !  " 

" — Your  Royal  Ilij^huess,  I  cannot  sing  the  dread- 
ful stuff  1     Think  of  my  grey  hairs  I  " 

''Tushl  Master  Carter — nonsense;  'tis  choicely 
well  sung.     Come,  brother,  the  chorus  1 " 

"  With  a  fa— la " 

And  the  chorus  was  roar'd  forth,  with  shouts  of 
laughter  and  clinking  of  glasses.  Then  came  an 
interval  of  mournful  appeal,  and  my  kinsman's  voice 
was  again  lifted — 

'  He  Bcatter'd  the  tadpoles,  and  set  'em  agog, 
Hey !  nod— noddy  —all  head  and  no  body ! 
Oh,  mammy  !  Oh,  nunky  1 " 

«  — O,  mercy,  mercy  I  it  makes  me  sweat  for  shame.* 
Now  meantime  I  had  been  searcliing  about  the 
garden,  and  was  lucky  enough  to  find  a  tool  shed,  and 
inside  of  this  a  ladder  hanging,  which  now  I  carried 
across  and  planted  boneath  the  window.  I  had  a 
shrewd  notion  of  what  I  should  find  at  the  top,  remem- 
bering now  to  have  heard  that  the  Princes  Rupert  and 
Maurice  were  lodging  with  blaster  Carter :  but  the  truth 
beat  all  my  fancies. 

For   climbing  softly  up  and    looking    in,  I  beheld 


A   TAVERN    BRAWL.  35 

my  j)oor  kinsman  perch'd  on  his  chair  a-top  of  the  table, 
in  the  midst  of  glasses,  decanters,  and  desserts :  his  wig 
askew,  his  face  white,  save  where,  between  the  eyes,  a 
medlar  had  hit  and  broken,  and  his  glance  shifting 
wildly  between  the  two  princes,  who  in  easy  postures, 
loose  and  tipsy,  lounged  on  either  side  of  him,  and  beat 
with  their  glasses  on  the  board. 

"Bravissimo  !     More,  Master  Carter — more  I  " 

"  O  mammy,  O  nunky,  here's  cousin  Jack  Frog — 
With  a  fa— la " 

I  lifted  my  knuckles  and  tapped  on  the  panej 
whereon  Prince  Maurice  starts  up  with  an  oath,  and 
coming  to  the  window,  flings  it  open. 

"  Pardon,  your  Highness,''  said  I,  and  pulFd  myself 
past  him  into  the  room,  as  cool  as  you  please. 

'Twas  worth  while  to  see  their  surprise.  Prince 
Maurice  ran  back  to  the  table  for  his  sword :  his  brother 
(being  more  thoroughly  drunk)  dropped  a  decanter  on  the 
floor,  and  lay  back  staring  in  his  chair.  While  as  for 
my  kinsman,  he  sat  with  mouth  wide  and  eyes  starting, 
as  tho'  I  were  a  very  ghost.  In  the  which  embar- 
rassment I  took  occasion  to  say,  very  politely — 

"  Good  evening,  nunky ! " 

"  Who  the  devil  is  this  ?  "  gasps  Prince  Rupert. 

"  Why  the  fact  is,  your   Highnesses,''  answered  I, 
»  2 


j{8  THB    SPLENDID    SPTTR. 

Btepping  up  and  laying  my  sword  on  the  table,  while  1 
pour'd  out  a  glass,  "  Master  Timothy  Carter  here  is  my 
guardian,  and  has  the  small  sum  of  £200  in  his  posses- 
sion for  my  use,  of  which  I  happen  to-night  to  stand  in 

immediate   need.      So   you   see "      I    finished    the 

sentence  by  tossing  off  a  glass.  "  This  is  rare  stuff  !  "  1 
said. 

"  Blood  and  fury  I "  burst  out  Prince  Rupert,  fum- 
bling for  his  sword,  and  then  gazing,  drunk  and  helpless. 

"  Two    hundred    pound  I      Thou    jackanapes " 

began  Master  Carter. 

"I'll  let  you  off  with  fifty  to-night,"  said  I. 

"Ten  thousand \" 

"  No,  fifty.  Indeed,  nunky,"  I  went  on,  "  'tis  very 
simple.     I  was  at  the  '  Crown '  tavern ** 

"  At  a  tavern  I  " 

"  Aye,  at  a  game  of  dice " 

"Dice  I" 

"  Aye,  and  a  young  man  was  killed " 

"  Thou  shameless  puppy  I     A  man  murder'd  I  " 

"  Aye,  nunky ;  and  the  worst  is  they  say  'twas  1 
that  kiird  him." 

"  He's  mad.  The  boy's  stark  raving  mad  !  "  ex- 
claim'd  my  kinsman.     "  To  come  here  in  this  trim  I  " 

"  Why,  truly,  nunky,  thou  art  a  strange  one  to  talk 


A   TAVERN    BRAWL.  87 

of  appearances.  Oh,  dear  I  '*  and  I  burst  into  a  wild  fit 
of  laughing,  for  the  wine  had  warmed  me  up  to  play  the 
comedy  out.     "  To  hear  thee  sing 

"  *  With  a  fa — la — tweedle — tweedle  1 ' 

ana Oh,  nunky,  that  medlar  on  thy  face  is  so 

funny  1" 

'*  In  Heaven^s  name,  stop !  '*  broke  in  the  Prince 
Maurice.  "  Am  I  mad,  or  only  drunk  ?  Rupert,  if 
you  love  me,  say  I  am  no  worse  than  drunk." 

''  Lord  knows,''  answered  his  brother.  '*  I  for  one 
was  never  this  way  before." 

Indeed,  your  Highnesses  be  only  drunk,"  said  I, 
and  able  at  that  to  sign  the  order  that  I  shall  ask  you 
for." 

"An  order  I" 

"  To  pass  the  city  gates  to-night." 

"  Oh,  stop  him  somebody,"  groan'd  Prince  Rupert: 
"  my  head  is  whirling." 

"  With  your  leave,"  I  explained,  pouring  out  another 
glassful :  "  'tis  the  simplest  matter,  and  one  that  a 
child  could  understand.  You  see,  this  young  man  was 
kill'd,  and  they  charged  me  with  it ;  so  away  I  ran,  and 
the  Watch  after  me ;  and  therefore  I  wish  to  pass  the 
city  gates.     And  as  I  may  have  far  to  travel,  and  gave 


It 


88  THE    SPLENDID    SPU». 

my  last  groat  to  a  thief  for  hoisting  me  over  Mastei 
Carter's  wall " 

"A  thief — my  wall  I "  repeated  Master  Carter. 
*'  Oh  well  is  thy  poor  mother  in  her  grave  I  " 

" Why,  therefore  I  came  for  money,"    I  wound 

up,  sipping  the  wine,  and  nodding  to  all  present. 

'Twas  at  this  moment  that,  catching  ray  eye,  the 
Prince  Maurice  slapp'd  his  leg,  and  leaning  back,  broke 
into  peal  after  peal  of  laughter.  And  in  a  moment  his 
brother  took  the  jest  also ;  and  there  we  three  sat  and 
shook,  and  roar'd  unquenchably  round  Master  Carter, 
who,  staring  blankly  from  one  to  another,  sat  gaping, 
as  though  the  last  alarum  were  sounding  in  his  ears. 

"  Oh !  oh  1  oh  I     Hit  me  on  the  back,  Maurice  I  '* 

"  Oh  !  oh  !  I  cannot — 'tis  killing  me — Master  Car- 
ter, for  pity's  sake,  look  not  so  ;  but  pay  the  lad  his 
money." 

"  Your  Highness " 

"  Pay  it  I  say  ;  pay  it :  'tis  fairly  won." 

"  Fifty  pounds !  " 

"  Every  doit,"  said  I :  "  I'm  sick  of  schooling." 

"  Be  hang'd  if  I  do  ! "  snapp'd  Master  Carter. 

"  Then  be  hang'd,  sir,  but  all  the  town  shall  hear  to- 
morrow of  the  frog  and  the  pool  I  No,  sir :  I  am  off  t« 
Bee  the  world — 


A   TAVERN    BRAWL.  S9 

"  *  Sayfi  he  :  "  This  is  better  than  moping  in  school !  ** " 

"  Your  Highnesses,"  pleaded  the  unhappy  man,  "  if, 
So  please  you,  I  sang  that  idiocy,  which,  for  fifty  years 
Qow,  I  had  forgotten- 


f> 


"  Exc^ll'nt  shong/^  says  Prince  Rupert,  waking  up ; 

*  less  have  ^t  again  1 " 

•  •  •  •  • 

To   be   short,   ten   o'clock  was   striking    from    St. 

Mary'tf  spire  when,  with  a  prince  on  either  side  of  me, 
and  thirty  guineas  in  my  pocket  (which  was  all  tht 
loose  gold  he  had),  I  walked  forth  from  Master  Carter's 
door.  To  make  up  the  deficiency,  their  highnesses  had 
insisted  on  furnishing  me  with  a  suit  made  up  from  the 
simplest  in  their  joint  wardrobes — riding-boots,  breeches, 
buff -coat,  sash,  pistols,  cloak,  and  feathered  hat,  all  of 
which  fitted  me  excellently  welL  By  the  doors  of 
Christ  Church,  before  we  came  to  the  south  gate. 
Prince  Rupert,  who  had  been  staggering  in  his  walk, 
suddenly  pull'd  up,  and  leant  against  the  wall. 

"  Why — odd's  my  life — we've  forgot  a  horse  for 
him  !  "  he  cried. 

*'  Indeed,  your  Highness,"  I  answered,  "  if  my  luck 
holds  the  same,  I  shall  find  one  by  the  road."  (How 
true  this  turned  out  you  shall  presently  hear.) 

There  was  no  difficulty  at  :he  gate,  where  the  sentry 


40  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

recognis'd  the  two  princes  and  openM  the  wicket  at 
once.  Long  after  it  had  clos'd  behind  me,  and  I  stood 
looking  back  at  Oxford  towers,  all  bath'd  in  the  winter 
moonlight,  I  heard  the  two  voices  roaring  awaj  up  the 
street : — 

"  It  was  a  frog  leapt  into  a  pool * 

At  length  they  died  into  silence ;  and,  hugging  the 
king's  letter  in  my  breast,  I  stepped  briskly  forward  on 
my  travel*. 


41 


CHAPTER  lY. 

I    TAKE    THE    BOAD. 

So  puffed  up  was  I  by  the  condescension  of  the  two 
princes,  and  my  head  so  busy  with  big  thoughts,  that 
not  till  I  was  over  the  bridges  and  climbing  the  high 
ground  beyond  South  Hincksey,  with  a  shrewd  north- 
east wind  at  my  back,  could  I  spare  time  for  a  second 
backward  look.  By  this,  the  city  lay  spread  at  my  feet, 
very  delicate  and  beautiful  in  a  silver  network,  with  a 
black  clump  or  two  to  southward,  where  the  line 
of  Bagley  trees  ran  below  the  hill.  I  pulled  out  the 
letter  that  Anthony  had  given  me.  In  the  moonlight 
the  brown  smear  of  his  blood  was  plain  to  see,  running 
across  the  superscription  : 

"  To  our  trusty  and  well  beloved  Sir  Ralph  Hopton, 
at  our  Army  in  Cornwall — these** 

'Twas  no  more  than  I  looked  for ;  yet  the  sight  of  it 
and  the  king's  red  seal,  quicken 'd  my  step  as  I  set  off 
again.  And  I  cared  not  a  straw  for  Dr.  Kettle's  wrath 
on  the  morrow. 

Having  no  desire  to  fall  in  with  any  of  the  royal 
outposts  that  lay  around  Abingdon,  I  fetched  well  away 


42  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

to  the  west,  meaning  to  shape  my  course  for  Faringdon, 
and  so  into  the  great  Bath  road.  'Tis  not  my  purpose 
to  describe  at  any  length  my  itinerary,  but  rather 
to  reserve  my  pen  for  those  more  moving  events  that 
overtook  me  later.  Only  in  the  uncertain  light  I  must 
have  taken  a  wrong  turn  to  the  left  (I  think  near 
Besselsleigh)  that  led  me  round  to  the  south :  for, 
coming  about  daybreak  to  a  considerable  town,  I  found 
it  to  be,  not  Faringdon,  but  Wantage.  There  was  no 
help  for  it,  so  I  set  about  enquiring  for  a  bed.  The 
town  was  fnll,  and  already  astir  with  preparations  for 
cattle-fair ;  and  neither  at  the  "  Bear  "  nor  the  "  Three 
Nuns"  was  there  a  bed  to  be  had.  But  at  length 
at  the  "  Boot*'  tavern — a  small  house,  I  found  one  just 
vacated  by  a  couple  of  drovers,  and  having  cozen'd  the 
chambermaid  to  allow  me  a  clean  pair  of  sheetSj 
went  up-stairs  very  drowsily,  and  in  five  minutes  was 
sleeping  sound. 

I  awoke  amid  a  clatter  of  voices,  and  beheld  the 
room  full  of  womankind. 

"  He's  waking,"  said  one. 

**  'Tis  a  pity,  too,  to  be  afflicted  thus — and  he  such 
a  pretty  young  man  I  " 

This  came  from  the  landlady,  who  stood  close,  hei 
hand  shaking  my  shoulder  roughly. 


I   TAKE   THE    ROAD.  48 

"  What's  amiss  ?  '^  I  asked,  rubbing  my  eyes. 

"  Why,  'tis  three  of  the  afternoon/' 

"  Then  I'll  get  up,  as  soon  as  you  retire." 

"  Lud !  we've  been  trying  to  wake  thee  this  hour 
past ;  but  'twas  sleep — sleep  1 " 

"  I'll  get  up,  I  tell  you." 

"  Thought  thee'd  ha'  slept  through  the  bed  and 
right  through  to  the  floor,"  said  the  chambermaid  by 
the  door,  tittering. 

"  Unless  you  pack  and  go,  I'll  step  out  amongst  you 

all !  " 

Whereat    they    fled    with    mock    squeals,    calling 

out  that  the  very  thought  made  them  blush :  and  left 

me  to  dress. 

Down-stairs  I  found  a  giant's  breakfast  spread  for 
me,  and  ate  the  whole,  and  felt  the  better  for  it :  and 
thereupon  paid  my  scot,  resisting  the  landlady's  endeavour 
to  charge  me  double  for  the  bed,  and  walked  out  to  see 
the  town. 

"  Take  care  o'  thysel',"  the  chambermaid  bawled 
after  me ;  "  nor  flourish  thy  attainments  abroad,  lest 
they  put  thee  in  a  show  1 " 

Dark  was  coming  on  fast :  and  to  my  chagrin  (for  I 
had  intended  purchasing  a  horse)  the  buying  and  selling 
of  the  fair  were  over,  the  cattle-^ens  broken  up,  and  the 


44  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

dealers  gathered  round  the  fiddlers,  ballad-sin^rs,  and 
gingerbread-stalls.  There  were  guming-booths,  too, 
driving  a  brisk  trade  at  Shovel-board,  All-fcurs,  and 
Costly  Colours ;  and  an  eating  tent,  whence  issued  a 
thick  reek  of  cooking  and  loud  rattle  of  plates.  Over  the 
entrance,  I  remember,  was  set  a  notice  :  "  Dame  Alia- 
way  from  Bartholomew  Fair.  Here  are  the  lest  geene, 
and  she  does  them  as  well  as  ever  she  did."  I  jostled 
my  way  along,  keeping  tight  hold  on  my  pockets,  for 
fear  of  cut-purses ;  when  presently,  about  half-way 
down  the  street,  there  arose  the  noise  of  shouting.  The 
crowd  made  a  rush  towards  it ;  and  in  a  minute  I  was 
left  alone,  standing  before  a  juggler  who  had  a  sword 
half-way  down  his  throat,  and  had  to  draw  it  out  again 
before  he  could  with  any  sufficiency  cvtrse  the  defection 
of  his  audience ;  but  offered  to  pull  out  a  tooth  for  me 
if  I  wanted  it. 

I  left  him,  and  running  after  the  crowd  soon  learnt 
the  cause  of  this  tumult. 

'Twas  a  meagre  old  rascal  that  someone  had  charged 
with  picking  pockets:  and  they  were  dragging  him  off 
to  be  duck'd.  Now  in  the  heart  of  Wantage  the  little 
stream  that  runs  through  the  town  is  widenM  into 
a  cistern  about  ten  feet  square,  and  five  in  depth, 
over  which  hung  a  ducking-stool  for  scolding    wives. 


I   TAKE    THE    ROAD.  45 

Ajid  since  the  townspeople  draw  their  water  from  this 
cistern,  'tis  to  be  supposed  they  do  not  fear  the  infec- 
tion. A  long  beam  on  a  pivot  hangs  out  over  the  pool, 
and  to  the  end  is  a  chair  fasten'd ;  into  which,  despite 
his  kicks  and  screams,  they  now  strappM  this  poor 
wretch,  whose  grey  locks  might  well  have  won  mercy 
for  him. 

Souse  !  he  was  plunged :  hauled  up  choking  and 
dripping :  then — ^just  as  he  found  tongue  to  shriek — 
souse  !  again. 

'Twas  a  dismal  punishment;  and  this  time  they 
kept  him  under  for  a  full  half-minute.  But  as  the 
beam  was  lifted  again,  I  heard  a  hullaballoo  and  a 
cry — 

"The  bear  I  the  bear!" 

And  turning,  I  saw  a  great  brown  form  lumbering 
down  the  street  behind,  and  driving  the  people  before  it 
like  chaff. 

The  crowd  at  the  brink  of  the  pool  scatterM  to  right 
and  left,  yelling.  Up  flew  the  beam  of  the  ducking-stool, 
relieved  of  their  weight,  and  down  with  a  splash  went 
the  pickpocket  at  the  far  end.  As  well  for  my  own 
skints  sake  as  out  of  pity  to  see  him  drowning,  I  jumpM 
into  the  water.  In  two  strokes  I  reachM  him,  gained 
footing,  and  with  Anthony^s  sword  cut  the  strape  away 


*6  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

and  pull'd  bim  up.  And  there  we  stood,  up  to  oui 
necks,  couching  and  splutterinf^ ;  while  on  the  deserted 
brink  the  bear  sniff'd  at  the  water  and  regarded  us. 

No  doubt  we  appeared  contemptible  enough  :  for 
after  a  time  he  turned  with  a  louder  sniff,  and  went  his 
way  lazily  up  the  street  again.  He  had  broken  out 
from  the  pit  wherein,  for  the  best  part  of  the  day,  they 
had  baited  him  ;  yet  seemed  to  bear  little  malice.  For 
he  saunter'd  about  the  town  for  an  hour  or  two,  hurting 
no  man,  but  making  a  clean  sweep  of  every  sweet-stall 
in  his  way ;  and  was  taken  at  last  very  easily,  with  his 
head  in  a  treacle-cask,  by  the  bear-ward  and  a  few  dogs. 

Meanwhile  the  pickpocket  and  I  had  scrambled 
out  by  the  further  bank  and  wrung  our  clothes.  He 
seemed  to  resent  his  treatment  no  more  than  did  the  bear. 

"  Ben  cove — 'tis  a  good  world.     My  thanks  !  " 

And  with  this  scant  gratitude  he  was  gone,  leaving 
me  to  make  my  way  back  to  the  sign  of  "  The  Boot," 
where  the  chambermaid  led  me  up-stairs,  and  took  away 
my  clothes  to  dry  by  the  fire.  I  determined  to  buy  a 
horse  on  the  morrow,  and  with  my  guineas  and  the 
King's  letter  under  the  pillow,  droppM  off  to  slumber 
again. 

My  powers  of  sleep  must  have  been  noisM  abroad 
by   the   hostess  .    for   next   morning   at  the  breakfast 


I   TAKE   THE   ROAD.  47 

ordinary,  the  dealers  and  drovers  laid  down  knife  and 
fork  to  stare  as  I  entered.  After  a  while  one  or  two 
lounged  out  and  brought  in  others  to  look :  so  that  soon 
I  was  in  a  ring  of  stupid  faces,  all  gazing  like  so  many 
cows. 

For  a  while  I  affected  to  eat  undisturbed :  but  lost 
patience  at  last  and  addressed  a  red-headed  gazer — 

"  If  you  take  me  for  a  show,  you  ought  to  pay." 

"  That's  fair,''  said  the  fellow,  and  laid  a  groat  on 
the  board.  This  came  near  to  putting  me  in  a  passion, 
but  his  face  was  serious.  "  'Tis  a  real  pleasure,"  he 
added  heartily,  "  to  look  on  one  so  gifted.'' 

"  If  any  of  you/'  I  said,  "  could  sell  me  a 
horse " 

At  once  there  was  a  clamour,  all  bidding  in  one 
breath  for  my  custom.  So  finishing  my  breakfast,  I 
walked  out  with  them  to  the  tavern-yard,  where  I  had 
my  pick  among  the  sorriest-looking  dozen  of  nags  in 
England,  and  finally  bought  from  the  red-haired  man, 
for  five  pounds,  bridle,  saddle,  and  a  flea-bitten  grey  that 
seem'd  more  honestly  raw-boned  than  the  rest.  And 
the  owner  wept  tears  at  parting  with  his  beast,  and 
thereby  added  a  pang  to  the  fraud  he  had  already  put 
upon  me.  And  I  rode  from  the  tavern-door  suspecting 
laughter  in  the  eyes  of  every  passer-by. 


4iS  THE   SPLENDID    SPUR. 

The  day  ('twas  drawing  near  noon  as  I  started)  waa 
cold  and  clear,  with  a  coating  of  rime  over  the  fields  : 
and  my  horse's  feet  rang-  cheerfully  on  the  frozen  road. 
His  pace  was  of  the  soberest :  but,  as  I  was  no  skilful 
rider,  this  suited  me  rather  than  not.  Only  it  was 
galling  to  be  told  so,  as  happenM  before  I  had  gone 
three  miles. 

'Twas  my  friend  the  pickpocket :  and  he  sat  before 
ft  fire  of  dry  sticks  a  little  way  back  from  the  road. 
His  scanty  hair,  stiff  as  a  badger's,  now  stood  upright 
around  his  batter'd  cap,  and  he  look'd  at  me  over  the 
bushes,  with  his  hook'd  nose  thrust  forward  like  a  bird's 
beak. 

"  Bien  lightmans,  comrade — good  day  I  'Tis  a  good 
world  ;  so  stop  and  dine." 

I  pull'd  up  my  grey. 

"  Glad  you  find  it  so,"  I  answered ;  "  you  had  a 
nigh  chance  to  compare  it  with  the  next,  last  night." 

"  Shan't  do  so  well  i'  the  next,  I  fear,"  he  said  with 
a  twinkle  :  "  but  I  owe  thee  something,  and  here's  a 
hedgehog  that  in  five  minutes  '11  be  baked  to  a  turn. 
"Tis  a  good  world,  and  the  better  that  no  man  can  count 
on  it.  Last  night  my  drip})ing  duds  helped  me  to  a 
cant  tale,  and  got  me  a  silver  penny  from  a  man  of  re- 
ligion.    Good  '8  in  the  worst;  and  life's  like  hunting 


I   TAKE    THE    ROAD.  49 

the  squirrel — a  man  gets  much  good  exercise  thereat, 
but  seldom  what  he  hunts  for." 

"  That's  as  good  morality  as  Aristotle's/'  said  I. 

"  'Tis  better  for  me,  because  'tis  mine."  While  I 
tether'd  my  horse  he  blew  at  the  embers,  wherein  lay  a 
good-sized  ball  of  clay,  baking.  After  a  while  he  look'd 
up  with  red  cheeks.  "  They  were  so  fast  set  on  drown- 
ing me,"  he  continued  with  a  wink,  "they  couldn't 
spare  time  to  look  i'  my  pocket — the  ruffin  cly  them  ! " 

"  He  pull'd  the  clay-ball  out  of  the  fire,  crack'd  it, 
and  lo !  inside  was  a  hedgehog  cook'd,  the  spikes  stick- 
ing in  the  clay,  and  coming  away  with  it.  So  he  divided 
the  flesh  with  his  knife,  and  upon  a  slice  of  bread  from 
his  wallet  it  made  very  delicate  eating :  tho'  I  doubt  if 
I  enjoyed  it  as  much  as  did  my  comrade,  who  swore  over 
and  over  that  the  world  was  good^  and  as  the  wintry 
Bun  broke  out,  and  the  hot  ashes  warm'd  his  knees, 
began  to  chatter  at  a  great  pace. 

"  Whj ,  dir,  but  for  the  pretty  uncertainty  of  things 
I'd  as  lief  die  here  as  I  sit " 

He  broke  off  at  the  sound  of  wheels,  and  a  coach 
with  two  postillions  spun  past  us  on  the  road. 

I  had  just  time  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  figure 
huddled  in  the  comer,  and  a  sweet  pretty  girl  with 
ohestnat   oorls   seated   beside    it,    behind    the    glass. 


60  THE    SPLENDID    8PUK. 

After  the  coach  came  a  heavy  broad-shouldered  servant 
riding  on  a  stout  grey ;  who  flung  us  a  sharp  glance  as 
he  went  by,  and  at  twenty  yards'  distance  tum'd  again 
to  look. 

"That's  luck,"  observed  the  pickpocket,  as  the 
travellers  disappeared  down  the  highway  :  "To-morrow, 
with  a  slice  of  it,  I  might  be  riding  in  such  a  coach  as 
that,  and  have  the  hydropsy,  to  boot.  Good  lack  I 
when  I  was  ta'en  prisoner  by  the  Turks  a-saiiing  i'  the 
Mary  of  London,  and  sold  for  a  slave  at  Algiers,  I 
escap'd,  after  two  months,  with  Eli  Sprat,  a  Gravesend 
man,  in  a  small  open  boat.  Well,  we  sailed  three  days 
and  nights,  and  all  the  time  there  was  a  small  sea-bird 
following,  flying  round  and  round  us,  and  calling  two 
notes  that  sounded  for  all  the  world  like  '  Wind'ard  I 
Wind'ard  I  '  So  at  last  says  Eli,  *  Tis  heaven's  voice 
bidding  us  ply  to  wind'ard.'  And  so  we  did,  and  on  the 
fourth  day  made  Marseilles ;  and  who  should  be  first  to 
meet  Eli  on  the  quay  but  a  Frenchwoman  he  had  married 
five  years  before,  and  left.  And  the  jade  had  him  clapp'd 
in  the  pillory,  alongside  of  a  cheating  fishmonger  with  a 
collar  of  stinking  smelts,  that  turn'd  poor  Eli's  stomach 
completely.  Now  there's  somewhat  to  set  againet  the 
story  of  Whittington  next  time  'tis  told  you." 

I  waa  now  for  bidding  the  old  rascal  good-bye.     Buk 


I   TAKE   THE    ROAD.  61 

he  offer'd  to  go  with  me  as  far  as  Hungerford,  where  we 
should  turn  into  the  Bath  road.  At  first  I  was  shy  of 
accepting,  by  reason  of  his  coat,  wherein  patches  of 
blue,  orange-tawny  and  flame-colour  quite  overlaid  the 
parent  black  :  but  closed  with  him  upon  his  promise  to 
teach  me  the  horsemanship  that  I  so  sadly  lacked. 
Ajid  by  time  we  enter'd  Hungerford  town  I  was  ad- 
vanced so  far,  and  bestrode  my  old  grey  so  easily,  that 
in  gratitude  I  offer'd  him  supper  and  bed  at  an  inn,  if 
he  would  but  buy  a  new  coat :  to  which  he  agreed, 
saying  that  the  world  was  good. 

By  this,  the  day  was  clouded  over  and  the  rain 
coming  down  apace.  So  that  as  soon  as  my  comrade  was 
decently  array'd  at  the  first  slop-shop  we  came  to,  'twas 
high  time  to  seek  an  inn.  We  found  quarters  at  "  The 
Horn,"  and  sought  the  travellers'  room,  and  a  fire  to  dry 
ourselves. 

In  this  room,  at  the  window,  were  two  men  who 
look'd  lazily  up  at  our  entrance.  They  were  playing  at 
a  game,  which  was  no  other  than  to  race  two  snails 
up  a  pane  of  glass  and  wager  which  should  prove  the 
faster. 

"  A  wet  day  I  "  said  my  comrade  cheerfully. 

The  pair  regarded  him.     "  I'll  lay  you  a  crown  it 
clears  within  the  hour  I  "  said  one. 
>2 


THB    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

I  And  I  another/'  put  in  the  other ;  and  with  that 
they  went  back  to  their  sport. 

Drawing  near,  I  myself  was  soon  as  eager  as  they 
in  watching  the  snails,  when  my  companion  drew  my 
notice  to  a  piece  of  writing  on  the  window  over  which 
they  were  crawling.  'Twas  a  set  of  verses  scribbled 
there,  that  must  have  been  scratch'd  with  a  diamond : 
and  to  my  surprise — for  I  had  not  guessM  him  a 
scholar — he  read  them  out  for  my  benefit.  Thus  the 
writing  ran,  for  I  copied  it  later  : — 

"Master   Ephraim  Tucker,  his   dying  councell  to  way 
fardingers  ;  to  seek  The  Splendid  Spur. 

"  Not  on  the  necks  of  prince  or  hound, 
Nor  on  a  woman's  finper  twin'd, 
May  gold  from  the  deriding  ground 
Keep  sacred  that  we  sacred  bind  : 
Only  the  lieel 
Of  splendid  steel 
Shall  stand  secure  on  sliding  fate, 
When  golden  navies  weep  their  freight. 

"  The  scarlet  hat,  the  lanrell'd  stave 

Are  measures,  not  the  springs,  of  worth  ( 
In  a  wife's  lap,  as  in  a  grave, 

Man's  airy  notions  mix  with  earth. 
Seek  other  spur 
Bravely  to  stir 


I   TAKE   THE    ROAD.  68 

The  dust  in  this  loud  world,  and  tread 
Alp-high  among  the  whisp'ring  dead. 

*  Trust  in  thyself, — then  spur  amain  : 
So  shall  Charybdis  wear  a  grace, 
Grim  ^tna  laugh,  the  Lybian  plain 
Take  roses  to  her  shrivell'd  face. 
This  orb — this  round 
Of  sight  and  sound — 
Oonnt  it  the  lists  that  God  hath  built 
For  haughty  hearts  to  ride  a-tilt. 

**  Finis— Master  Tucker's  Farewell." 

"  And  a  very  pretty  moral  on  four  gentlemen  that 
pass  their  afternoon  a-setting  snails  to  race  I  " 

At  these  words,  spoken  in  a  delicate  foreign  voice 
we  all  started  round :  and  saw  a  young  lady  standing 
oehind  us. 

Now  that  she  was  the  one  who  had  passed  us  in  the 
coach  I  saw  at  once.  But  describe  her — to  be  plain — 
I  cannot,  having  tried  a  many  times.  So  let  me  say 
only  that  she  was  the  prettiest  creature  on  God's  earth 
(which,  I  hope,  will  satisfy  her) ;  that  she  had  chestnut 
curls  and  a  mouth  made  for  laughing;  that  she  wore  a 
kirtle  and  bodice  of  grey  silk  taffety,  with  a  gold 
pomander-box  hung  on  a  chain  about  her  neck ;  and 
held  out  a  drinking-glass  towards  us  with  a  Frenchified 
grace. 


64  THE    SPLENDID    8PUU. 

*'  Gentlemen,  my  faj,her  is  sick,  and  will  taste  n« 
water  but  what  is  freshly  drawn.  I  ask  you  not  to 
brave  Charybdis  or  iEtna,  but  to  step  out  into  the  rainy 
yard  and  draw  me  a  glass-full  from  the  pump  there:  for 
our  servant  is  abroad  in  the  town." 

To  my  deep  disgust,  before  I  could  find  a  word,  that 
villainous  old  piekiiocket  had  caug-ht  the  glass  from  her 
hand  and  reach 'd  the  door.  But  I  ran  after  ;  and  out 
into  the  yard  we  steppM  together,  where  I  pump'd  while 
he  held  the  glass  to  the  spout,  flinging  away  the  contents 
time  aft^r  time,  till  the  bubbles  on  the  brim,  and  the 
film  on  the  outside,  were  to  his  liking. 

'Twas  he,  too,  that  gain'd  the  thanks  on  our  return. 
"  Mistress,"  said  he  with  a  bow,  "  my  young  friend 
is  raw,  but  has  a  good  will.  Confess,  now,  for  his  edi- 
fication— for  he  is  bound  on  a  long  journey  westward, 
where,  they  tell  me,  the  maidens  grow  comeliest — that 
looks  avail  naught  with  womankind  beside  a  dashing 
manner." 

The  young  gentlewoman  laughed,  shaking  her  curls. 
"Fll  give  him  in  that  case  three  better  counsels 
yet:  first  (for  by  his  habit  I  see  he  is  on  the  King's 
gide),  let  him  take  a  circuit  from  this  place  to  the  south, 
for  the  road  between  Marlboro'  and  Bristol  is,  they  tell 
me,    all  held  by    the   rebels ;    next,   let  him   avoid   all 


I   TAKE   THE    ROAD.  65 

vromen,  even  tho'  they  ask  but  an  innocent  cup  of 
water ;  and  lastly,  let  him  shun  thee,  unless  thy  face 
lie  more  than  thy  tongue.     Shall  I  say  more  ?  " 

"  Why,  no— perhaps  better  not,'*  replied  the  old 
rogue  hastily,  but  laughing  all  the  same.  "That^s  a 
clever  lass,''  he  added,  as  the  door  shut  behind  her. 

And,  indeed,  I  was  fain,  next  morning,  to  agree  to 
this.  For,  awaking,  I  found  my  friend  (who  had  sharM 
a  room  with  me)  already  up  and  gone,  and  discover'd 
the  reason  in  a  sheet  of  writing  pinn'd  to  my  clothes — 

"  Young  Sir, — I  convict  myself  of  ingratitude  :  but  habit 
is  hard  to  break.  So  I  have  made  off  with  the  half  of  thy  guineas 
and  thy  horse.  The  residue,  and  the  letter  thou  bearest,  I  leave. 
'Tis  a  good  world,  and  experience  should  be  bought  early.  This 
golden  lesson  I  leave  in  return  for  the  guineas.  Believe  me,  'tis 
of  more  worth.  Read  over  those  verses  on  the  window-pane 
before  starting,  digest  them,  and  trust  me,  thy  obliged, 

"Petee,  the  Jackman. 

"  BaIso  not  thy  hand  so  often  to  thy  breast :  'tis  a  sure 
index  of  hidden  valuables." 

Be  sure  I  was  wroth  enough :  nor  did  the  calm 
interest  of  the  two  snail-owners  appease  me,  when  at 
breakfast  I  told  them  a  part  of  the  story.  But  I 
thought  I  read  sympathy  in  the  low  price  at  which  one 
of  them  offered  me  his  horse.     'Twas  a  tall  black  brute, 


56  THE    SPLENDID    SPUB. 

very  strong  in  the  loins,  and  I  bought  him  at  once  out 
of  my  shrunken  stock  of  guineas.  At  ten  o'clock,  I  set 
out,  not  along  the  Bath  road,  but  bearing  to  the  south, 
as  the  young  gentlewoman  had  counselFd.  I  began  to 
hold  a  high  opinion  of  her  advice. 

By  twelve  o'clock  I  was  back  at  the  inn-door, 
clamouring  to  see  the  man  that  sold  me  the  horse^ 
which  had  gone  dead  lame  after  the  second  mile. 

"  Dear  heart  1  "  cried  the  landlord  ;  "  they  are 
gone,  the  both,  this  hour  and  a  half.  But  they  are 
coming  again  within  the  fortnight;  and  I'm  expressly 
to  report  if  you  returned,  as  they  had  a  wager  about 

it" 

I  tum'd  away,  pondering.  Two  days  on  the  road 
had  put  me  sadly  out  of  conceit  with  myself.  For 
mile  upon  mile  I  trudged,  dragging  the  horse  after  me 
by  the  bridle,  till  my  arms  felt  as  if  coming  from  their 
sockets.  I  would  have  turned  the  brute  loose,  and 
thought  myself  well  quit  of  him,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  saddle  and  bridle  he  carried. 

•  •  •  •  • 

'Twas  about  five  in  the  evening,  and  I  still  labouring 
along,  when,  over  the  low  hedge  to  my  right,  a  man  on 
a  sorrel  mare  leapt  easily  as  a  swallow,  and  alighted 
some  ten  paces  or  less  in  front  of  me ;  where  he  dis- 


1   TAKE    THE    EOAD.  67 

mounted  and  stood  barring  my  path.  The  muzzle  of 
his  pistol  was  in  my  face  before  I  could  lay  hand  to 
my  own. 

"  Good  evening  I  "  said  I. 

"  You  have  money  about  you,  doubtless/'  growled 
the  man  curtly,  and  in  a  voice  that  made  me  start.  For 
by  his  voice  and  figure  in  the  dusk  I  knew  him  for 
Captain  Settle  :  and  in  the  sorrel  with  the  high  white 
stocking  I  recognised  the  mare,  Molly,  that  poor  An- 
thony Killigrew  had  given  me  almost  with  his  last 
breath. 

The  bully  did  not  know  me,  having  but  seen  me  for 
an  instant  at  "  The  Crown/'  and  then  in  very  different 
attire. 

"  I  have  but  a  few  poor  coins,"  I  answer'd. 

"  Then  hand  'em  over." 

"  Be  shot  if  I  do ! "  said  I  in  a  passion ;  and  pulling 
out  a  handful  from  my  pocket,  I  dash'd  them  down  in 
the  road. 

For  a  moment  the  Captain  took  his  pistol  from  my 
face,  and  stooped  to  clutch  at  the  golden  coins  as  they 
trickled  and  ran  to  right  and  left.  The  next,  I  had 
struck  out  with  my  right  fist,  and  down  he  went 
staggering.  His  pistol  droppM  out  of  his  hand  and 
exploded  between  my  feet.     I  rush'd  to  Molly,  caught 


5g  THE    SPLENDID    SPIIB-. 

her  bridle,  and  leapt  on  her  back.  'Twas  a  near  thing, 
for  the  Captain  was  rushing  towards  us.  But  at  the 
call  of  my  voice  the  mare  gave  a  bound  and  tum*d  : 
and  down  the  road  I  was  borne,  light  as  a  feather. 

A  bullet  whizzM  past  my  ear  :  I  heard  the  Captain's 
curse  mingle  with  the  report:  and  then  was  out  of 
range,  and  galloping  through  the  du»k. 


59 


CHAPTER  V. 

MY   ADVENTURE    AT   THE    "THREE    CUPS.** 

Secube  of  pursuit,  and  full  of  delight  in  the  mare's 
easy  motion,  I  must  have  travelled  a  good  six  miles 
before  the  moon  rose.  In  the  frosty  sky  her  rays 
sparkled  cheerfully,  and  by  them  I  saw  on  the  holsters 
the  silver  demi-bear  that  I  knew  to  be  the  crest  of  the 
Killigrews,  having  the  fellow  to  it  engraved  on  my 
sword-hilt.  So  now  I  was  certain  'twas  Molly  that  I 
bestrode :  and  took  occasion  of  the  light  to  explore  the 
holsters  and  saddle-flap. 

Poor  Anthony's  pistols  were  gone — filched,  no 
doubt,  by  the  Captain  :  but  you  may  guess  my  satisfac- 
tion, when  on  thrusting  my  hand  deeper,  I  touched  a 
heap  of  coins,  and  found  them  to  be  gold. 

'Twas  certainly  a  rare  bargain  I  had  driven  with 
Captain  Settle.  For  the  five  or  six  gold  pieces  I  scat- 
tered on  the  road,  I  had  won  close  on  thirty  guineas,  as 
I  counted  in  the  moonlight ;  not  to  speak  of  this  incom- 
parable Molly.  And  I  began  to  whistle  gleefully,  and 
taste  the  joke  over  again  and  laugh  to  myself,  as  we 
cantered  along  with  the  north  wind  at  our  backs. 


(JO  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

All  the  same,  I  had  no  relish  for  riding  thus  till 
morning.  For  the  night  was  chill  enough  to  search  my 
very  bones  after  the  heat  of  the  late  gallop  :  and,  more- 
over, I  knew  nothing  of  the  road,  which  at  this  hour 
was  quite  deserted.  So  that,  coming  at  length  to  a  tall 
hill  with  a  black  ridge  of  pine-wood  standing  up  against 
the  moon  like  a  fish's  fin,  I  was  glad  enough  to  note 
below  it,  and  at  some  distance  from  the  trees,  a  window 
brightly  lit;  and  pushed  forward  in  hope  of  enter- 
tainment. 

The  building  was  an  inn,  though  a  sorry  one.  Nor, 
iave  for  the  lighted  window,  did  it  wear  any  grace  of 
hospitality,  but  thrust  out  a  bare  shoulder  upon  the 
road,  and  a  sign  that  creaked  overhead  and  look'd  for 
all  the  world  like  a  gallows.  Round  this  shoulder  of 
the  house,  and  into  the  main  yard  (that  turn'd  churlishly 
toward  the  hillside),  the  wind  howled  like  a  beast  in 
pain.  I  climVd  off  ^lolly,  and  pressing  my  hat  down 
on  my  head,  struck  a  loud  rat-tat  on  the  door. 

Curiously,  it  opened  at  once ;  and  I  saw  a  couple  of 
men  in  the  lighted  passage. 

'  Heard  the  mare's  heels  on  the  road.  Cap  ,. 
Hillo  I    What  in  the  fiend's  name  is  this  ?  " 

Said  I :  "If  you  are  he  that  keeps  this  house,  I  want 
two  things  of  you — firsts  a  civil  tongue,  and  next  a  bed. 


>» 


in    ADVENTURB    AT   THE    "  THEEE    CUPS.*'  61 


cc 


c< 


»> 


Ye'll  get  neither,  then/* 
Your  sign  says  that  you  keep  an  inn/ 
Aye— the  '  Three  Cups  * :  but  we're  full/* 
"  Your  manner  of  speech  proves  that  to  be  a  lie/' 
I  liked  the  fellow's  voice  so  little  that  'tis  odds  1 
would  have  re-mounted  Molly  and  ridden  away ;  but  at 
this  instant  there  floated  down  the  stairs  and  out  through 
the  drink-smelling  passage  a  sound  that  made  me  jump. 
'Twas  a  girl's  voice  singing — 

"  Hey  nonni— nonni — no  1 
Men  are  fools  tkat  wish  to  die  ! 
Is't  not  fine  to  laugh  and  sing 
When  the  bells  of  death  do  ring — " 

There  was  no  doubt  upon  it.  The  voice  belonged  to 
the  young  gentlewoman  I  had  met  at  Hungerford.  I 
turned  sharply  towards  the  landlord,  and  was  met  by 
another  surprise.  The  second  man,  that  till  now  had 
stood  well  back  in  the  shadow,  was  peering  forward, 
and  devouring  Molly  with  his  gaze.  'Twas  hard  to 
read  his  features,  but  then  and  there  I  would  have 
wagered  my  life  he  was  no  other  than  Luke  Settle's 
comrade,  Black  Dick. 

My  mind  was  made  up.  "  I'll  not  ride  a  step  fur- 
ther, to-night,"  said  I. 

"  Then  bide  there  and  freeze/'  answer'd  the  landlord. 


61  THE    SPLENDID    SPUX. 

He  was  for  slamming  the  door  in  my  face,  when 
the  other  caug-ht  him  by  the  arm  and,  pulling  him  a 
little  back,  whisper'd  a  word  or  two.  I  guess'd  what 
this  meant,  but  resolved  not  to  draw  back;  and  pre- 
sently the  landlord's  voice  began  again,  betwixt  surly 
and  polite — 

"  Have  ye  too  high  a  stomach  to  lie  on  straw  ?  " 

'*  Oho  1 "  thought  I  to  myself,  "  then  I  am  to  be 
kept  for  the  mare's  sake,  but  not  admitted  to  the 
house:*'  and  said  aloud  that  I  could  put  up  with  a 
straw  bed. 

"  Because  there's  the  stable-loft  at  your  service.  As 
ye  hear''  (and  in  fact  the  singing  still  went  on,  only 
now  I  heard  a  man's  voice  joining  in  the  catch)  "our 
house  is  full  of  company.  But  straw  is  clean  bedding, 
and  the  mare  I'll  help  to  put  in  stall." 

"  Agreed,"  I  said,  "  on  one  condition — that  you  send 
out  a  maid  to  me  with  a  cup  of  mulled  sack :  for  this 
cold  eats  me  alive." 

To  this  he  consented  :  and  stepping  back  into  a  side 
room  with  the  other  fellow,  returned  in  a  minute  alone, 
and  carrying  a  lantern  which,  in  spite  of  the  moon,  wa« 
needed  to  guide  a  stranger  across  that  ruinous  yard. 
The  flare,  as  we  picfd  our  way  along,  fell  for  a  moment 
(Ml  an  open  cart-shed  and,  within,  on  the  gilt  panels  of 


MT    ADVENTURE   AT    THE    ''THREE    CUPS."  65 

a  coach  that  I  recognised.  In  the  stable,  that  stood  at 
the  far  end  of  the  court,  I  was  surprised  to  find  half-a- 
dozen  horses  standing,  ready-saddled,  and  munching 
their  fill  of  oats.  They  were  ungroom'd,  and  one  or 
two  in  a  lather  of  sweat  that  on  such  a  night  was  hard 
to  account  for.  But  I  asked  no  questions,  and  my 
companion  vouchsafed  no  talk,  though  twice  I  caught 
him  regarding  me  curiously  as  I  unbridled  the  mare  in 
the  only  vacant  stall.  Not  a  word  passed  as  he  took 
the  lantern  off  the  peg  again,  and  led  the  way  up  a 
ramshackle  ladder  to  the  loft  above.  He  was  a  fat, 
lumbering  fellow,  and  made  the  old  timbers  creak.  At 
the  top  he  set  down  the  light,  and  pointed  to  a  heap  of 
straw  in  the  corner. 

"  Yon's  your  bed,"  he  growled ;  and  before  I  could 
answer,  was  picking  his  way  down  the  ladder  again. 

I  look'd  about,  and  shiver'd.  The  eaves  of  my  bed- 
chamber were  scarce  on  speaking  terms  with  the  walls, 
and  through  a  score  of  crannies  at  least  the  wind  poured 
and  whistled,  so  that  after  shifting  my  truss  of  straw  a 
dozen  times  I  found  myself  still  the  centre  of  a  whirl  of 
draught.  The  candle-flame,  too,  was  puffed  this  way 
and  that  inside  the  horn  sheath.  I  was  losing  patience 
when  I  heard  footsteps  below;  the  ladder  creaked,  and 
the  red  hair  and  broad  shoulders  of  a  chambermaid  rose 


84  THE    SPLENDID    BPUK. 

into  view.  She  carried  a  steaming  mug  in  her  hand, 
and  mutter'd  all  the  while  in  no  very  choice  talk. 

The  wench  had  a  kind  face,  tho' ;  and  a  pair  of  eyes 
that  did  her  more  credit  than  her  tongue. 

"  And  what's  to  be  my  reward  for  this,  I  want  to 
know  ?  "  she  panted  out,  resting  her  left  palm  on  her 
hip. 

"  Why,  a  groat  or  two,''  said  I,  "  when  it  comes  to 
the  reckoning." 

"  Lud  !  "  she  cried,  "  what  a  dull  young  man  I " 

"Dull?" 

"  Aye — to  make  me  ask  for  a  kiss  in  so  many 
words : "  and  with  the  back  of  her  left  hand  she  wiped 
her  mouth  for  it  frankly,  while  she  held  out  the  mug  in 
her  right." 

*'  Oh  ! "  I  said,  "  I  beg  your  pardon,  but  my  wits 
are  frozen  up,  I  think.  There's  two,  for  interest :  and 
another  if  you  tell  me  whom  your  master  entertains  to- 
night, that  I  must  be  content  with  this  crib." 

She  took  the  kisses  with  composure  and  said — 

*'  Well — to  begin,  there's  the  gentlefolk  that  came 
this  afternoon  with  their  own  carriage  and  heathenish 
French  servant :  a  cranky  old  grandee  and  a  daughter 
with  more  airs  than  a  peacock  :  Sir  Something-or-other 
Killigrew —  Lord  bless  the  boy  I  " 


MT    ADTENTURE    AT   THE    "  THREE    CUPS."  65 

For  I  had  dropped  the  mug  and  spilt  the  hot  sack 
all  about  the  straw,  where  it  trickled  away  with  a 
fragrance  reproachfully  delicious. 

"  Now  I  beg  your  pardon  a  hundred  times  :  but 
the  chill  is  in  my  bones  worse  than  the  ague ; "  and 
huddling  my  shoulders  up,  I  counterfeited  a  shivering  fit 
with  a  truthfulness  that  surprised  myself. 

"Poor  lad!'' 

" — And  'tis  first  hot  and  then  cold  all  down  my 
spine." 

"  There,  now !  " 

"  — And  goose-flesh  and  flushes  all  over  my  body." 

"  Dear  heart — and  to  pass  the  night  in  this  grave  of 
a  place  ! " 

" — And  by  morning  I  shall  be  in  a  high  fever: 
and  oh  I  I  feel  I  shall  die  of  it !  " 

"  Don't — don't !  "  The  honest  girl's  eyes  were  full 
of  tears.  '*  I  wonder,  now — "  she  began  :  and  I  waited, 
eager  for  her  next  words.  "  Sure,  master's  at  cards  in 
the  parlour,  and  '11  be  drunk  by  midnight.  Shalt  pass 
the  night  by  the  kitchen  fire,  if  only  thou  make  no  noise." 

'*  But  your  mistress — what  will  she  say  ?  " 

"  Is  in  heaven  these  two  years  :  and  out  of  master's 
speaking-distance  for  ever.  So  blow  out  the  light  and 
follow  me  gently." 


66  THB    SPLENDID    SPUa. 

Still  feigning-  to  shiver,  I  followed  her  down  th« 
ladder,  and  through  the  stable  into  the  ojten.  The 
wind  by  this  time  had  brought  up  some  heavy  clouds, 
and  mass'd  them  about  the  moon :  but  'twas  freezing 
hard,  nevertheless.  The  girl  took  me  by  the  hand 
to  guide  me  :  for,  save  from  the  one  bright  window 
in  the  upper  floor,  there  was  no  light  at  all  in  the  yard. 
Clearly,  she  was  in  dread  of  her  master's  anger,  for  we 
stole  across  like  ghosts,  and  once  or  twice  she  whispered 
a  warning  when  my  toe  kick'd  against  a  loose  cobble. 
But  just  as  I  seem'd  to  be  walking  into  a  stone  wall, 
she  put  out  her  hand.  I  heard  the  click  of  a  latch,  and 
stood  in  a  dark,  narrow  passage. 

The  passage  led  to  a  second  door  that  opened  on  a 
wide,  stone-pav'd  kitchen,  lit  by  a  cheerful  fire,  whereon 
a  kettle  hissed  and  bubbled  as  the  vapour  lifted  the 
cover.  Close  by  the  chimney  comer  was  a  sort  of  trap, 
or  buttery-hatch,  for  pushing  the  hot  dishes  conveniently 
into  the  parlour  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall.  Besides 
this,  for  furniture,  the  room  held  a  broad  deal  table,  an 
oak  dresser,  a  linen-press,  a  rack  with  hams  and  strings 
of  onions  depending  from  it,  a  settle  and  a  chair  or  two, 
with  (for  deporatiou)  a  dozen  or  so  of  ballad-sheets  stuck 
among  the  dish-covers  along  the  wall. 

**  Sit,*'   whispered  the   girl,    "  and    make  no  noise, 


MY    ADVENl'TjfiE    AT   THE    *'TflaEB    CUPS."  67 

while  I  brew  a  rack-punch  for  the  men-folk  in  the 
parlour."  She  jerked  her  thumb  towards  the  buttery- 
hatch,  where  I  had  already  caught  the  murmxir  of 
voices. 

I  took  up  a  chair  softly,  and  set  it  down  between 
the  hatch  and  the  fire-place,  so  that  while  warming  my 
knees  I  could  catch  any  word  spoken  more  than  ordinary 
loud  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall.  The  chambermaid 
stirr'd  the  fire  briskly,  and  moved  about  singing  as 
she  fetched  down  bottles  and  glasses  from  the  dresser — 

"  Lament  ye  maids  an'  darters 

For  constant  Sarah  Ann, 
Who  hang'd  hersel'  in  her  garters 

All  for  the  love  o'  man, 
All  for  the " 

She  was  pausing,  bottle  in  hand,  to  take  the  high 
note :  but  hush'd  suddenly  at  the  sound  of  the  voices 
singing  in  the  room  upstairs — 

"  Yivre  en  tout  cas 
C'est  le  grand  soulas 
Des  honnStes  gens  I " 


Ki 


That's  the  foreigners,"  said  the  chambermaid,  and 
went  on  with  her  ditty— 

"  AH  for  the  love  of  a  sotdjer 
Who  christ'niug  name  was  Jan.** 
f  8 


48  TttB   MLKNDID   SPUE. 

A  volley  of  oatlis  sounded  through  the  buttery-hatch. 

"  —  And  that's  the  true-bom  Englishmen^  as  you 
may  tell  by  their  speech.  'Tk  pretty  company  the 
master  keeps,  these  days/* 

She  was  continuing  her  song,  when  I  held  up  a 
finger  for  silence.  In  fact,  through  the  hatch  my  ear 
had  caught  a  sentence  that  set  me  listening  for  more 
with  a  still  heart. 

"  D n  the  Captain/*  the  landlord's  gruff  voice 

was  saying ;  "  I  warn'd  'n  agen  this  fancy  business 
when  sober,  cool-handed  work  was  toward." 

"  Settle's  way  from  his  cradle/'  growl'd  another  ; 
"  and  times  enough  I've  told  'n  :  '  Cap'n,'  says  I, 
'  there's  no  sense  o'  proportions  about  ye.'  A  master 
mind,  sirs,  but  'a  '11  be  hang'd  for  a  hen-roost,  so  sure  as 
my  name's  Bill  Widdicomb." 

"  Ugly  words — what  a  creeping  influence  has  that 
game  mention  o'  hanging  ! "  piped  a  thinner  voice. 

"  Hold  thy  complaints.  Old  Mortification,"  put  in  a 
speaker  that  I  recognis'd  for  Black  Dick ;  "  sure  the 
pretty  maid  upstairs  is  tender  game.  Hark  how  they 
sing  I" 

And  indeed  the  threaten'd  folk  upstairs  were  singing 
their  catch  very  choicely,  with  the  girl's  clear  voice  to 
lead  them — 


ICT   ADVENTURE    AT   THE    "THREE    CX-PS."  69 

"  Comment  dit  papa 
— Margoton,  ma  mie  P  " 

"Heathen  language,  to  be  sure/^  said  the  thin 
roice  aguin,  as  the  chorus  ceased :  "  thinks  I  to  myseP 
'they  be  but  Papisters/  an'  my  doubting  mind  is 
mightily  reconciled  to  manslaughter/' 

"  I  don't  like  beginning  'ithout  the  Cap'n/'  observed 
Black  Dick :  "  though  I  doubt  something  has  mis- 
carried. Else,  how  did  that  young  spark  ride  in  upon 
the  mare  ?  " 

"  An'  thaf  s  what  thy  question  shoidd  ha'  been, 
Dick,  with  a  pistol  to  his  skull." 

"  Hell  keep  till  the  morrow." 

"We'll  give  Settle  half-an-hour  more,"  said  the 
landlord  :  "  Mary  !  "  he  push'd  open  the  hatch,  so  that 
I  had  barely  time  to  duck  my  head  out  of  view,  "  fetch 
in  the  punch,  girl.  How  did'st  leave  the  young 
man  i'  the  loft  ?  " 

'*  Asleep,  or  nearly,"  answer'd  Mary — 

"  Who  hang'd  hersel'  in  her  gar-ters, 
All  for  the  love  o'  man  —  " 

" — Anon,  anon,  master :  wait  only  till  I  get  the  kettle 
on  the  boil." 

The  hatch  was  slipp*d-to  again.  I  stood  up  and 
nuide  a  step  towards  the  girl. 


70  THE   SPLENDID    SPUm. 

"  How  many  are  they  VI  ask'd,  jerking  a  finger  in 
the  direction  of  the  parlour. 

"  A  dozen  all  but  one/' 

"  Where  is  the  foreign  guests*  room  ?  " 

"  Left  hand,  on  the  first  landing/' 

''The  staircase?'' 

*'  Just  outside  the  door." 

"  Then  sing — go  on  singing  for  your  life.** 

"  But " 

"Sing  I" 

"  Dear  heart,  they'll  murder  thee  I  Oh  I  for  pity** 
sake,  let  go  my  wrist — 

*  Lament,  ye  maidB  an'  darters *  * 


I  stole  to  the  door  and  peep'd  out.  A  lantern  hung 
in  the  passage,  and  showed  the  staircase  directly  in 
front  of  me.  I  stay'd  for  a  moment  to  pull  off  my 
boots,  and,  holding  them  in  my  left  hand,  crept  up  the 
stairs.  In  the  kitchen,  the  girl  was  singing  and  clat- 
tering the  glasses  together.  Behind  the  door,  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  I  heard  voices  talk  g.  I  slipp'd  on 
my  boots  again  and  tapp'd  on  the  panel. 

"Come  in  I" 

Let  me  try  to  describe  that  on  which  my  eyes  rested 
M  I  posh'd  the  door  wide.     Twas  a  long  room,  wains* 


MT    ADVENTURB    AT   THB    "  THEEE    CUPS."  71 

oottdd  half  up  the  wall  in  some  dark  wood,  and  in  day- 
time lit  by  one  window  only,  which  now  was  hung  with 
red  curtains.  By  the  fireplace,  where  a  brisk  wood  fire 
was  crackling,  leant  the  young  gentlewoman  I  had  met 
at  Hungerf ord,  who,  as  she  now  turned  her  eyes  upon  me, 
oeas'd  fingering  the  guitar  or  mandoline  that  she  held 
against  her  waist,  and  raised  her  pretty  head  not  without 
curiosity. 

But  'twas  on  the  table  in  the  centre  of  the  chamber 
that  my  gaze  settled;  and  on  two  men  beside  it,  of 
whom  I  must  speak  more  particularly. 

The  elder,  who  sat  in  a  high-back*d  chair,  was 
a  little,  frail,  deformed  gentleman  of  about  fifty, 
dressed  very  richly  in  dark  velvet  and  furs,  and  wore 
on  his  head  a  velvet  skull-cap,  round  which  his  white 
hair  stuck  up  like  a  ferret's.  But  the  oddest  thing 
about  him  was  a  complexion  that  any  maid  of  sixteen 
would  give  her  ears  for— of  a  pink  and  white  so  trans- 
parent that  it  seem'd  a  soft  light  must  be  glowing 
beneath  his  skin.  On  either  cheek-bone  this  delicate 
colouring  centred  in  a  deeper  flush.  This  is  as  much 
as  I  need  say  about  his  appearance,  except  that  his  eyes 
were  very  bright  and  sharp,  and  his  chin  stuck  out  like 
a  vicious  mule's. 

The  table  before  him  was  covered  with  bottles  and 


72  TH*    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

flasks,  in  the  middle  of  which  stood  a  silver  lamp  burn- 
ing, and  over  it  a  silver  saucepau  that  sent  up  a  rare 
fragrance  as  the  liquid  within  it  simmerM  and  bubbled. 
So  eager  was  the  old  gentleman  in  watching  the  pro- 
gress of  his  mixture,  that  he  merely  glane'd  up  at  my 
entrance,  and  then,  holding  up  a  hand  for  silence, 
turn'd  his  eyes  on  the  saucepan  again. 

The  second  man  was  the  broad-shouldered  lackey  1 
had  seen  riding  behind  the  coach :  and  now  stood  over 
the  saucepan  with  a  twisted  flask  in  his  hand,  from  which 
he  poured  a  red  syrup  very  gingerly,  drop  by  drop,  with 
the  tail  of  his  eye  turnM  on  his  master's  face,  that  he 
might  know  when  to  cease. 

Now  it  may  be  that  my  entrance  upset  this  experi- 
ment in  strong  drinks.  At  any  rate,  I  had  scarce  come 
to  a  stand  about  three  paces  inside  the  door,  when  the 
little  old  gentleman  bounces  up  in  a  fury,  kicks  over  his 
chair,  hurls  the  nearest  bottles  to  right  and  left,  and  sends 
the  silver  saucepan  spinning  across  the  table  to  my  very 
feet,  where  it  scalded  me  clean  through  the  boot,  and 
made  me  hop  for  pain. 

"  Spoilt — spoilt  I  **  he  screamM  :  "  drenchM  in  filthy 
liqueur,  when  it  should  have  breath^  but  a  taste  I " 

And,  to  my  amazement,  he  sprang  on  the  strap- 
ping servant  like  a  wild  cat,  and  began  to  beat,  cuff. 


MT    ADVENTUEE   AT   THE    "THREE    CUPS."  73 

and  belabour  him  with  all  the  strength  of  his  puny 
limbs. 

'Twas  like  a  scene  out  of  Bedlam.  Yet  all  the  while 
the  girl  leant  quietly  against  the  mantelshelf,  and  softly 
touched  the  strings  of  her  instrument;  while  the  servant 
took  the  rain  of  blows  and  slaps  as  though  'twere  a 
summer  shower,  grinning  all  over  his  face,  and  making 
no  resistance  at  all. 

Then,  as  I  stood  dumb  with  perplexity,  the  old 
gentleman  let  go  his  hold  of  the  fellow's  hair,  and, 
dropping  on  the  floor,  began  to  roll  about  in  a  fit  of 
coughing,  the  like  of  which  no  man  can  imagine. 
'Twas  hideous.  He  barked,  and  writhed,  and  baik'd 
again,  till  the  disorder  seem'd  to  search  and  rack  every 
innermost  inch  of  his  small  frame.  And  in  the  intervals 
of  coughing  his  exclamations  were  terrible  to  listen  to. 

"  He's  dying !  "  I  cried ;  and  ran  forward  to  help. 

The  servant  pick'd  up  the  chair,  and  together  we 
set  him  in  it.  By  degrees  the  violence  of  the  cough 
abated,  and  he  lay  back,  livid  in  the  face,  with  his  eyes 
closed,  and  his  hands  clutching  the  knobs  of  the  chair. 
I  turn'd  to  the  girl.  She  had  neither  spoken  nor 
stirr'd,  but  now  came  forward,  and  calmly  ask'd  my 
business. 

"  I  think,"  said  I,  **  that  your  name  is  KiUigrew  ?  " 


74  THE   SPLENDID   SPUB- 

"I  am  Delia  Killigrew,  and  this  is  my  father,  Sir 
Deskin." 

''Now  on  his  waj  to  visit  his  estates  in 
Cornwall  ?  " 

She  nodded. 

*'  Then  I  have  to  warn  you  that  your  lives  are  in 
danger."  And,  gently  as  possible,  I  told  her  what  I 
had  seen  and  heard  downstairs.  In  the  middle  of  my 
tale,  the  servant  stepped  to  the  door,  and  returned 
quietly.  There  was  no  lock  on  the  inside.  After  a 
minute  he  went  across,  and  drew  the  red  curtaina  The 
window  had  a  grating  within,  of  iron  bars  as  thick 
as  a  man's  thumb,  strongly  clamp'd  in  the  stone- 
work, and  not  four  inches  apart.  Clearly,  he  was  a 
man  of  few  words;  for,  returning,  he  merely  pull'd 
out  his  sword,  and  waited  for  the  end  of  my  tale. 

The  girl,  also,  did  not  interrupt  me,  but  listenM  in 
■Uence.     As  I  ceasM,  she  said — 

"  Is  this  all  you  know  ?  ** 

"No,"  answer'd  I,  "it  is  not.  But  the  rest  I 
promise  to  tell  you  if  we  escape  from  this  place  alive. 
Will  this  content  you  ?  " 

She  tum'd  to  the  servant,  who  nodded.  Where- 
npon  she  held  out  her  hand  very  cordially. 

"  Sir,  listen :  we  are  travellers  bound  for  Cornwall, 


MT  ADVENTUEH  AT  THB  "THREE  CUPS.*'      75 

M  you  know,  and  have  some  small  possessions,  tliat  will 
poorly  reward  the  greed  of  these  violent  men.  Never- 
theless, we  should  be  hurrying  on  our  journey  did  we 
not  await  my  brother  Anthony,  who  was  to  have  ridden 
from  Oxford  to  join  us  here,  but  has  been  delayed, 
doubtless  on  the  King's  business " 

She  broke  off,  as  I  started :  for  below  I  heard  the 
main  door  open,  and  Captain  Settle's  voice  in  the 
passage.     The  arch-vUlain  had  return'd. 

"Mistress  Delia,"  I  said  hurriedly,  "the  twelfth 
man  has  enter'd  the  house,  and  unless  we  consider  our 
plans  at  once,  all's  up  with  us." 

"  Tush  1 "  said  the  old  gentleman  in  the  chair,  who 
(it  seems)  had  heard  all,  and  now  sat  up  brisk  as  ever. 
*'  I,  for  my  part  «hall  mix  another  glass,  and  leave  it  all 
to  Jacques.  Come,  sit  by  me,  sir,  and  you  shall  see 
some  pretty  play.  Why,  Jacques  is  the  neatest  rogue 
with  a  small-sword  in  all  France  I " 

"  Sir,"  I  put  in,  "  they  are  a  round  dozen  in  all,  and 
your  life  at  present  is  not  worth  a  penny's  purchase." 

"  That's  a  lie !  'Tis  worth  this  bowl  before  me, 
that,  with  or  without  you,  I  mean  to  empty.  What 
a  fool-thing  is  youth  1  Sir,  you  must  be  a  dying  man 
like  myself  to  taste  life  properly."  And,  as  I  am  a 
truthful  man,  he  struck  up  quavering  merrily — 


76  THE   SPLENDID   SPUft. 

"  Hey,  nonni — nonni — no  1 
Men  are  fools  that  wish  to  die  I 
Is't  not  fine  to  laugh  and  slug 
When  the  bells  of  death  do  ringP 
Is't  not  fine  to  drown  in  wine, 
And  turn  upon  the  toe. 
And  sing,  hey — nonni — noP 
Hey,  nonni — nonni * 

" — Come  and  sit,  sir,  nor  spoil  sport.  You  are  too  raw, 
m  wager,  to  be  of  any  help;  and  bof^g-ling  I  detest." 

"  Indeed,  sir,''  I  broke  in,  now  thoroughly  anger'd, 
"  I  can  use  the  small-sword  as  well  as  another." 

"  Tush  I     Try  him,  Jacques." 

Jacques,  still  wearing  a  stolid  face,  brought  his 
weapon  to  the  guard.  Stung  to  the  quick,  I  whe^^l'd 
round,  and  made  a  lunge  or  two,  that  he  put  aside  a« 
easily  as  though  I  were  a  babe.  And  then — I  know  not 
how  it  happened,  but  my  sword  slipp'd  like  ice  out  of 
my  grasp,  and  went  flying  across  the  room.  Jacques, 
sedately  as  on  a  matter  of  business,  stepped  to  pick  it 
up,  while  the  old  gentleman  chuckled. 

I  was  hot  and  asham'd,  and  a  score  of  bitter  word* 
sprang  to  my  tongue-tip,  when  the  Frenchman,  as  he 
rose  from  stooping,  ciuight  my  eye,  and  beckon'd  me 
across  to  him. 


MY  ADVENTURE  AT  THE  "THREE  CUPS."      77 

He  was  white  as  death,  and  pointed  to  the  hilt  of 
my  sword  and  the  demi-bear  engrav'd  thereon. 

"  He  is  dead/'  I  whisper'd  :  "  hush  ! — turn  your 
face  aside — killed  by  those  same  dogs  that  are  now 
below.'' 

I  heard  a  sob  in  the  true  fellow's  throat.  But  on 
the  instant  it  was  drown'd  by  the  sound  of  a  door  opening 
and  the  tramp  of  feet  on  the  stairs. 


18 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    FUQHT    IN    THB    PINK    WOOD. 

By  the  sound  of  their  steps   I  guessM  one  or  two  of 

these  dozen  rascals  to  be  pretty  far  gone  in  drink,  and 

afterwards  found  this  to  be  the  case.     I  look'd  round. 

Sir  Deakin  had  pickM  up  the  lamp  and  was  mixing  his 

bowl  of  punch,  humming  to  himself  without  the  least 

concern — 

"  VivT©  en  tout  eas 

C'est  le  grand  sonlas" — 
with  a  glance  at  his  daughter's  face,  that  was  white  to 
the  lips,  but  firmly  set. 

"  Hand  me  the  nutmeg  yonder,"  he  said,  and  then, 
"Why,  daughter,  what's  this? — a  trembling  hand?" 

And  all  the  while  the  footsteps  were  coming  up. 

There  was  a  loud  knock  on  the  door. 

"  Come  in  !  "  call'd  Sir  Deakin. 

At  this,  Jacques,  who  stood  ready  for  battle  by  the 
entrance,  wheeled  round,  shot  a  look  at  his  master,  and 
dropping  his  point,  made  a  sign  to  me  to  do  the  same. 
The  door  was  thrust  rudely  open,  and  Captain  Settle, 
his  hat  cock'd  over  one  eye,  and  sham  drunkenness  ic 


THE    PLIGHT    IN   THB    PINE    WOOD.  79 

his  gait,  lurched  into  the  room,  with  the  whole  villainous 
crew  behind  him,  huddled  on  the  threshold.  Jacques 
and  I  steppM  quietly  back,  so  as  to  cover  the  girl. 

''Would  you  mind  waiting  a  moment ?''  enquired 
Sir  Dealdn,  without  looking  up,  but  rubbing  the  nut- 
meg calmly  up  and  down  the  grater :  "  a  fraction  too 
much,  and  the  whole  punch  will  be  spoilt.'' 

It  took  the  Captain  aback,  and  he  came  to  a  stand, 
eyeing  us,  who  look'd  back  at  him  without  saying  a 
word.     And  this  discomposed  him  still  further. 

There  was  a  minute  during  which  the  two  parties 
could  hear  each  other's  breathing.  Sir  Deakin  set  down 
the  nutmeg,  wiped  his  thin  white  fingers  on  a  napkin, 
and  addressed  the  Captain  sweetly — 

"  Before  asking  your  business,  sir,  I  would  beg  yon 
and  your  company  to  taste  this  liquor,  which,  in  the 
court  of  France  " — ^the  old  gentleman  took  a  sip  from 
the  mixing  ladle — "  has  had  the  extreme  honour  to  be 
pronounced  divine.''  He  smacked  his  lips,  and  rising 
to  his  feet,  let  his  right  hand  rest  on  the  silver  foot  of 
the  lamp  as  he  bowed  to  the  Captain. 

Captain  Settle's  bravado  was  plainly  oozing  away 
before  this  polite  audacity  :  and  seeing  Sir  Deakin  taste 
the  punch,  he  pull'd  off  his  cap  in  a  shame-faced  manner 
and  sat  down  by  the  table  with  a  word  of  thanks. 


80  THE    SPLENDID    SPUU. 


tti 


Come  in,  sirs — come  in  I "  call'd  the  old  ^jentle- 
man;  "and  follow  your  friend's  example.  'Twill  be 
a  compliment  to  make  me  mix  another  bowl  when 
this  is  fiiiish'd.*'  He  stepp'd  around  the  table  to  wel- 
come them,  still  resting  his  hand  on  the  lamp,  as 
if  for  steadiness.  I  saw  his  eye  twinkle  as  they 
shuflBed  in  and  stood  around  the  chair  where  the 
Captain  was  seated. 

"  Jacques,  bring  glasses  from  the  cupboard  yonder  I 
And,  Delia,  fetch  up  some  chairs  for  our  guests — no, 
sirs,  pray  do  not  move  I  " 

He  had  waved  his  hand  lightly  to  the  door  as  he 
turned  to  us  :  and  in  an  instant  the  intention  as  well 
as  the  bright  success  of  this  comedy  flash'd  upon  me. 
There  was  now  no  one  between  us  and  the  stairs,  and 
as  for  Sir  Deakin  himself,  he  had  already  taken  the 
step  of  putting  the  table's  width  between  him  and  his 
guests. 

I  touch'd  the  girl's  arm,  and  we  made  as  if  to  fetch 
a  couple  of  chairs  that  stood  against  the  wainscot  by 
the  door.  As  we  did  so.  Sir  Deakin  push'd  the  punch- 
bowl forward  under  the  Captain's  nose. 

"  Smell,  sir,*'  he  cried  airily,  "  and  report  to  your 
friends  on  the  foretaste. *' 

Settle's  note  hung  over   the   steaming  compound. 


THl    FLIGHT   IN   THE    PINE    WOOD.  81 

With  a  swift  pass  of  the  hand,  the  old  gentleman 
caught  up  the  lamp  and  had  shaken  a  drop  of  burning 
oil  into  the  bowl.  A  great  blaze  leapt  to  the  ceiling. 
There  was  a  howl — a  scream  of  pain;  and  as  I  pushM 
Mistress  Delia  through  the  doorway  and  out  to  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  I  caught  a  backward  glimpse  of  Sir 
Deakin  rushing  after  us,  with  one  of  the  stoutest  among 
the  robbers  at  his  heels. 

"  Downstairs,  for  your  life ! "  I  whispered  to  the 
girl,  and  turning,  as  her  father  tumbled  past  me,  let  his 
pursuer  run  on  my  sword,  as  on  a  spit.  At  the  same 
instant,  another  blade  passed  through  the  fellow  trans- 
versely, and  Jacques  stood  beside  me,  with  his  back  to 
the  lintel. 

As  we  puU'd  our  swords  out  and  the  man  dropped, 
I  had  a  brief  view  into  the  room,  where  now  the 
blazing  liquid  ran  off  the  table  in  a  stream.  Settle, 
stamping  with  agony,  had  his  palms  pressed  against  his 
scorched  eyelids.  The  fat  landlord,  in  trying  to  beat  out 
the  flames,  had  increased  them  by  upsetting  two  bottles 
of  aqua  vitae,  and  was  dancing  about  with  three  fingers 
in  his  mouth.  The  rest  stood  for  the  most  part  dumb- 
founder'd :  but  Black  Dick  had  his  pistol  lifted. 

Jacques  and  I  sprang  out  for  the  landing  and  round 
the  doorway.  Between  the  flash  and  the  reprot  I  felt  a 
• 


82  THIS    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

sudden  scrape,  as  of  red-hot  wire,  across  my  left  thigh 
and  just  above  the  knee. 

"  Tenez,  camarade,**  said  Jacques'  voice  in  my  ear ; 
"k  moi  la  porte — k  vous  le  maitre,  Ik-bas : "  and  he 
pointed  down  the  staircase,  where,  by  the  glare  of  the 
conflagration  that  beat  past  us,  I  saw  the  figures  of  Sir 
Deakin  and  his  daughter  standing. 

"  But  how  can  you  keep  the  door  against  a 
dozen  ?  ** 

The  Frenchman  shrugg'd  hifl  shoulders  with  a 
smile — 

"  Mais— oomme  9a  I " 

For  at  this  moment  came  a  rush  of  footsteps  within 
the  room.  I  saw  a  fat  paunch  thrusting  past  us,  a 
quiet  pass  of  steel,  and  the  landlord  was  wallowing  on 
his  face  across  the  threshold.  Jacques'  teeth  snapped 
together  as  he  stood  ready  for  another  victim :  and  as 
the  fellows  within  the  room  tumbled  back,  he  motion'd 
me  to  leave  him. 

I  sprang  from  his  side,  and  catching  the  rail  of  the 
staircase,  reach'd  the  foot  in  a  couple  of  bounds. 

"  Hurry  I "  I  cried,  and  caught  the  old  baronet  by 
the  hand.  His  daughter  took  the  other,  and  between 
us  we  hurried  him  across  the  passage  for  the  kitchen 
door. 


THE    FLIGHT    IN   THE    PINE    WOOD.  88 

Within,  the  chambermaid  was  on  her  knees  by  the 
«ettle,  her  face  and  apron  of  the  same  hue.  I  saw  she 
was  incapable  of  helping,  and  hastenM  across  the  stone 
floor,  and  out  towards  the  back  entrance. 

A  stream  of  icy  wind  blew  in  our  faces  as  we 
steppM  over  the  threshold.  The  girl  and  I  bent  our 
heads  to  it,  and  stumbling,  tripping,  and  panting,  pull'd 
Sir  Deakin  with  us  out  into  the  cold  air. 

The  yard  was  no  longer  dark.  In  the  room  above 
some  one  had  pushM  the  casement  open,  letting  in  the 
wind :  and  by  this  'twas  very  evident  the  room  was  on  fire. 
Indeed,  the  curtains  had  caught,  and  as  we  ran,  a  pennon 
of  flame  shot  out  over  our  heads,  licking  the  thatch.  In 
the  glare  of  it  the  out-buildings  and  the  yard-gate  stood 
clearly  out  from  the  night.  I  heard  the  trampling  of 
feet,  the  sound  of  Settle's  voice  shouting  an  order,  and 
then  a  dismal  yell  and  clash  of  steel  as  we  flung  open 
the  gate. 

"  Jacques !  "  screamed  the  old  gentleman :  "  my  poor 
Jacques !  Those  dogs  will  mangle  him  with  their  cut 
and  thrust " 

'Twas  very  singular  and  sad,  but  as  if  in  answer  to 
Sir  Deakin's  cry,  we  heard  the  brave  fellow's  voice; 
and  a  famous  shout  it  must  have  been  to  reach  us  over 
the  roaring  of  the  flames — 
o2 


84  THE   SPLENDID    SPUR. 

"  Mon  maitre — mon  maitre  I  "  he  call'd  twice,  and 
then  "  Sauve  toi  I  '^  in  a  fainter  voice,  yet  clear.  And 
after  that  only  a  racket  of  shouts  and  outcries  reached 
as.  Without  doubt  the  villains  had  overpowered  and 
slain  this  brave  servant.  In  spite  of  our  peril  (for  they 
would  be  after  us  at  once),  ^twas  all  we  could  do  to 
drag  the  old  man  from  the  gate  and  up  the  road  :  and 
as  he  went  he  wept  like  a  child. 

After  about  fifty  yards,  we  turn'd  in  at  a  gate,  and 
began  to  cut  across  a  field :  for  I  hopM  thus  not  only 
to  baffle  pursuit  for  a  while,  but  also  to  gain  the  wood 
that  we  saw  dimly  ahead.  It  reachM  to  the  top  of  the 
hill,  and  I  knew  not  how  far  beyond  :  and  as  I  was 
reflecting  that  there  lay  our  chance  of  safety,  I  heard 
the  inn-door  below  burst  open  with  loud  cries,  and  the 
sound  of  footsteps  running  up  the  road  after  us. 

Moreover,  to  complete  our  fix,  the  clouds  that  had 
been  scurrying  across  the  moon's  face,  now  for  a  minute 
left  a  clear  interval  of  sky  about  her  :  so  that  right  in 
our  course  there  lay  a  great  patch  brilliantly  lit,  whereon 
our  figures  could  be  spied  at  once  by  anyone  glancing 
into  the  field.  Also,  it  grew  evident  that  Sir  Deakin'a 
late  agility  was  but  a  short  and  sudden  triumph  of  will 
over  body  :  for  his  poor  crooked  legs  began  to  trail  and 
lag  sadly.     So  turning  sharp  about,  we  struck  for  the 


THE   PLIGHT    IN   THE    PINE    WOOD.  85 

hedge's  shaxiow,  and  there  pull'd  him  dowB  in  a  dry 
ditch,  and  lay  with  a  hand  on  his  mouth  to  stifle  his 
ejaculations,  while  we  ourselves  held  our  breathing. 

The  runners  came  up  the  road,  pausing  for  a  moment 
by  the  gate.  I  heard  it  creak,  and  saw  two  or  three 
dark  forms  enter  the  field — the  remainder  tearing  on  up 
the  road  with  a  great  clatter  of  boots, 

"  Alas,  my  poor  Jacques ! "  moan'd  Sir  Deakin : 
"  and  to  be  butchered  so,  that  never  in  his  days  kilPd  a 
man  but  as  if  he  lov'd  him  !  " 

"  Sir,''  I  whisper'd  harshly,  "  if  you  keep  this  noise 
I  must  gag  you/'  And  with  that  he  was  silent  for  a 
while. 

There  was  a  thick  tangle  of  brambles  in  the  ditch 
where  we  lay :  and  to  this  we  owe  our  lives.  For  one 
of  the  men,  coming  our  way,  pass'd  within  two  yards  of 
US,  with  the  flat  of  his  sword  beating  the  growth  over 
our  heads. 

"  Reu-ben  I  Reuben  Gedges  ! "  call'd  a  voice  by 
the  gate. 

The  fellow  tum'dj  and  peeping  between  the  bramble- 
twigs,  I  saw  the  moonlight  glittering  on  his  blade.  A 
narrow,  light-harr'd  man  he  was,  with  a  weak  chin :  and 
since  then  I  have  paid  him  out  for  the  fright  he  gave  us. 

"  What's  the  coil  ?  "  he  shouted  back. 


g(J  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

"  Tlie  stable-roof's  ablaze — for  the  Lord's  sake  com« 
and  save  the  bosses  !  " 

He  strode  back,  and  in  a  minute  the  field  was  clear. 
Creeping  out  with  caution,  I  grew  aware  of  two  mourn- 
ful facts  :  first,  that  the  stable  was  indeed  afire,  as  I  per- 
..•eiv'd  by  standing  on  tip-toe  and  looking  over  the  hedge; 
ind  second,  that  my  knee  was  hurt  by  Black  Dick's 
bullet.  The  muscles  had  stiffened  while  we  were  crouch- 
ing, and  now  pain'd  me  badly.  Yet  I  kept  it  to  myself 
as  we  started  off  again  to  run. 

But  at  the  stile  that,  at  the  top  of  the  field,  led  into 
the  woods,  I  pull'd  up— 

"  Sorry  I  am  to  say  it,  but  you  must  go  on  with- 
out me." 

"  O— oh  !  "  cried  the  girl. 

"  'Tis  for  your  safety.  See,  I  leave  a  trail  of  blood 
behind  me,  so  that  when  day  rises  they  will  track  us 

easily." 

And  sure  enough,  even  by  the  moon,  'twas  easy  to 
trace  the  dark  spots  on  the  grass  and  earth  beside  the 
stile.     My  left  boot,  too,  was  full  of  blood. 

She  was  silent  for  a  while.  Down  in  the  valley  we 
could  hear  the  screams  of  the  poor  horses.  The  light  of 
the  flames  lit  up  the  pine-trunks  about  ub  to  a  bright 
scarletk 


THE    PUQHT    IN   THE    PINE    WOOD.  87 

'*  Sir,  you  hold  our  gratitude  cheaply." 

She  unwound  the  kerchief  from  her  neck,  and 
making  me  sit  on  the  stile,  bound  up  my  knee  skil- 
fully, twisting  a  short  stick  in  the  bandage  to  stop  the 
bleeding. 

I  thanfd  her,  and  we  hurried  on  into  the  depths 
of  the  wood,  treading  silently  on  the  deep  carpet  of 
pine-needles.  The  ground  rose  steeply  all  the  way : 
and  all  the  way,  tho'  the  light  grew  feebler,  the  roar  and 
outcries  in  the  valley  followed  us. 

Towards  the  hill's  summit  the  trees  were  sparser. 
Looking  upwards,  I  saw  that  the  sky  had  grown  thickly 
overcast.  We  crossed  the  ridge,  and  after  a  minute  or 
BO  were  in  thick  cover  again. 

'Twas  here  that  Sir  Deakin's  strength  gave  out. 
Almost  without  warning,  he  sank  down  between  oui 
hands,  and  in  a  second  was  taken  with  that  hateful 
cough,  that  once  already  this  night  had  frightened  me 
for  his  life. 

"  Ah,  ah  !  "  he  groaned,  between  the  spasms,  "  I'm 
not  fit — I'm  not  fit  for  it  I  "  and  was  taken  again,  and 
roll'd  about  barking,  so  that  I  fear'd  the  sound  would 
bring  all  Settle's  gang  on  our  heels.  "  I'm  not  fit  for 
it!"  he  repeated,  as  the  cough  left  him,  and  he  lay  back 
helpless,  among  the  pine-needlea. 


88  THB   SPLENDID    SPUR. 

Now,  I  understood  his  words  to  bear  on  his  unfitnest 
for  death,  and  judg'd  them  very  decent  and  properly 
spoken  :  and  took  occasion  to  hint  this  in  my  attempts 
to  console  him. 

"  Why,  bless  the  boy !  "  he  cried,  sitting  up  and 
gtaring,  "  for  what  d^ye  think  I'm  unsuited  ?  " 

"  Why,  to  die,  sir — to  be  sure  I  ** 

"Holy  Mother  1"  he  regarded  me  with  surprise,  con- 
tempt and  pity,  all  together :  "  was  ever  such  a  dunder- 
head 1  If  ever  man  were  fit  to  die,  I  am  he — and  that's 
just  my  reasonable  complaint.  Heart  alive  I  'tis  unfit 
to  live  I  am,  tied  to  this  absurd  body  1  *' 

I  suppose  my  attitude  express'd  my  lack  of  compre- 
hension, for  he  lifted  a  finger  and  went  on — 

"  TeU  me — can  you  eat  beef,  and  drink  beer,  and 
enjoy  them  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes." 

"  And  fight — hey  ?  and  kiss  a  pretty  girl,  and  be 
glad  youVe  done  it  ?  Dear,  dear,  how  I  do  hate  a  fool 
and  a  fool's  pity  I  Lift  me  up  and  carry  me  a  step. 
This  night's  work  has  kill'd  me :  I  feel  it  in  my  lungs. 
'Tis  a  pity,  too  ;  for  I  was  just  beginning  to  enjoy  it." 

I  lifted  him  as  I  would  a  babe,  and  off  we  set  again, 
my  teeth  shutting  tight  on  the  pain  of  my  hurt.  And 
presently,  coming  to  a  little  dingle,  about  half  a  mile 


THK    FLIGHT   IN   THE    PINE   WOOD.  89 

down  the  hill-side,  well  hid  with  dead  bracken  and  black- 
berry bushes,  I  consulted  with  the  girl.  The  place  wat 
well  sheltered  from  tho  wind  that  rock'd  the  tree-tops, 
and  I  fear'd  to  go  much  further,  for  we  might  come  on 
open  country  at  any  moment  and  so  double  our  peril. 
It  seemM  best,  therefore,  to  lay  the  old  gentleman 
snugly  in  the  bottom  of  this  dingle  and  wait  for  day. 
And  with  my  buff-coat,  and  a  heap  of  dried  leaves,  I 
made  him  fairly  easy,  reserving  my  cloak  to  wrap  about 
Mistress  Delia^s  fair  neck  and  shoulders.  But  against 
this  at  first  she  protested. 

"  For  how  are  you  to  manage  ?  "  she  ask'd. 

"  I  shall  tramp  up  and  down,  and  keep  watch/'  an- 
swered I,  strewing  a  couch  for  her  beside  her  father: 
"  and  'tis  but  fair  exchange  for  the  kerchief  you  gave 
me  from  your  own  throat.'* 

At  last  I  persuaded  her,  and  she  crept  close  to  her 
father,  and  under  the  edge  of  the  buff-coat  for  warmth. 
There  was  abundance  of  dry  bracken  in  the  dingle,  and 
with  this  and  some  handful  s  of  pine-needles,  I  covered 
them  over,  and  left  them  to  find  what  sleep  they  might. 

For  two  hours  and  more  after  this,  I  hobbled  to  and 
fro  near  them,  as  well  as  my  wound  would  allow,  look- 
ing up  at  the  sky  through  the  pine-tops,  and  listening 
to  the  sobbing  of  the  wind.      Now  and  then  I  would 


it 

(t 


90  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

swing  my  arms  for  warmth,  and  breathe  on  my  fingers, 
that  were  sorely  benumVd ;  and  all  the  while  k  3pt  my 
ears  on  the  alert,  but  heard  nothing. 

'Twas,  as  I  said,  something  over  two  hours  after, 
that  I  felt  a  soft  cold  touch,  and  then  another,  like 
kisses  on  my  forehead.  I  put  up  my  hand,  and  looked 
up  again  at  the  sky.  As  I  did  so,  the  girl  gave  a  long 
sigh,  and  awoke  from  her  doze — 

"  Sure,    I    must   have   dropped    asleep,"   she   said, 
opening  her  eyes,  and  spying  my   shadow  above  her : 
has  aught  happened  ?  '* 

Aye,"  replied   I,  "something   is  happening  that 
will  wipe  out  our  traces  and  my  bloody  track." 

''And  what  is  that  ?  " 

"  Snow  :  see,  'tis  falling  fast." 

She  bent  over,  and  listened  to  her  father's  breathing. 

« ^Tvvill  kill  him,"  she  said  simply. 

I  pullM  some  more  fronds  of  the  bracken  to  cover 
them  both.  She  thank'd  me,  and  offer'd  to  relieve  me 
in  my  watch  :  which  I  refus'd.  And  indeed,  by  lying 
down  I  should  have  caught  my  death,  very  likely. 

The  big  flakes  drifted  down  between  the  pines  :  till, 
as  the  moon  paled,  the  ground  about  me  was  carpeted 
all  in  white,  with  the  foliage  black  as  ink  above  it. 
Time  After  time,  as  I  tramp'd  to  and  fro,  I  paus'd  to 


THE    FLIGHT   IN   THE    PINE    WOOD.  91 

bnish  the  fresh-forming  heap  from  the  sleepeie*  cover- 
let, and  shake  it  gently  from  the  tresses  of  the  girl's 
hair.  The  old  man's  face  was  covered  completely  by 
the  buff-coat :  but  his  breathing  was  calm  and  regular 
as  finy  child's. 

Day  dawn'd.  Awaking  Mistress  Delia,  I  ask'd  her 
to  keep  watch  for  a  time,  while  I  went  off  to  explore. 
She  crept  out  from  her  bed  with  a  little  shiver  of  dis- 
gust. 

"  Run  about,"  I  advis'd,  "  and  keep  the  blood  stir- 
ring." 

She  nodded  :  and  looking  back,  as  I  strode  down  the 
hill,  I  saw  her  moving  about  quickly,  swinging  her 
arms,  and  only  pausing  to  wave  a  hand  to  me  for  good- 
speed. 

******* 

'Twas  an  hour  before  I  return'd  :  and  plenty  I  had 
to  tell.  Only  at  the  entrance  to  the  dingle  the  words 
failed  from  off  my  tongue.  The  old  gentleman  lay  as 
he  had  lain  throughout  the  night.  But  the  bracken  had 
been  toss'd  aside,  and  the  girl  was  kneeling  over  him.  I 
drew  near,  my  step  not  arousing  her.  Sir  Deakin's  f  ice 
was  pale  and  calm :  but  on  the  snow  that  had  gather'd 
by  his  head,  lay  a  red  streak  of  blood.  'Twas  from  hi*i 
lungB,  and  he  was  quite  dead. 


09 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

I      ?IND       A       COMEADB, 

But  I  must  go  back  a  little  and  tell  you  what  befell  ia 
my  expedition. 

I  had  scarce  trudged  out  of  sight  of  my  friends, 
down  the  hill,  when  it  struck  me  that  my  footprints  in 
the  snow  were  in  the  last  degree  dangerous  to  them, 
and  might  lead  Settle  and  his  crew  straight  to  the 
dingle.  Here  was  a  fix.  I  stood  for  some  minutes 
nonplussed,  when  above  the  stillness  of  the  wood  (for 
the  wind  had  dropp'd)  a  faint  sound  as  of  running 
water  caught  my  ear,  and  helped  me  to  an  idea. 

The  sound  seem'd  to  come  from  my  left.  Turning 
aside  I  made  across  the  hill  towards  it,  and  after  two 
hundred  paces  or  so  came  on  a  tiny  brook,  not  two  feet 
across,  that  gush'd  down  the  slope  with  a  quite  con- 
siderable chatter  and  impatience.  The  bed  of  it  was 
mainly  earth,  with  here  and  there  a  large  stone  or  root 
to  catch  the  toe  :  so  that,  as  I  stepp'd  into  the  water 
and  began  to  thread  my  way  down  between  the  banks 
of  snow,  'twas  necessary  to  look  carefully  to  my  steps. 

Here  and   there  the  brook  fetchM  a  leap  down  a 


I   FIND   A    COMRADE.  93 

sharper  declivity,  or  shot  over  a  hanging  stone :  but, 
save  for  the  wetting  I  took  in  these  places,  my  progress 
was  easy  enough.  I  must  have  waded  in  this  manner 
for  half  a  mile,  keeping  the  least  possible  noise,  when  at 
an  angle  ahead  I  spied  a  clearing  among  the  pines,  and 
to  the  right  of  the  stream,  on  the  very  verge,  a  hut  of 
logs  standing,  with  a  woodrick  behind  it 

^Twas  a  low  building,  but  somewhat  long,  and  I 
guessed  it  to  be,  in  summer-time,  a  habitation  for  the 
wood-cutters.  But  what  surprised  me  was  to  hear  a 
dull,  moaning  noise,  very  regular  and  disquieting,  that 
sounded  from  the  interior  of  the  hut.  I  listened,  and 
hit  on  the  explication.     'Twas  the  sound  of  snoring. 

Drawing  nearer  with  caution,  I  noticed,  in  that  end 
of  the  hut  which  stood  over  the  stream,  a  gap,  or  window 
hole.  The  sound  issued  through  this  like  the  whirr- 
ing of  a  dozen  looms.  "  He  must  be  an  astonishing 
fellow,"  thought  I,  "  that  can  snore  in  this  fashion, 
ril  have  a  peep  before  I  wake  him."  I  waded  down 
till  I  stood  under  the  sill,  put  both  hands  upon  it, 
and  pulling  myself  up  quiet  as  a  mouse,  stuck  my 
face  in  at  the  window — and  then  very  nearly  sat  back 
into  the  brook  for  fright. 

For  I  had  gazed  straight  down  into  the  uptur»*d 
faces  of   Captain  Settle  and   his  gang. 


#4  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

How  long  I  stood  there,  with  the  waiter  ruahing 
past  my  ankles  and  my  body  turning  from  cold  to  hot, 
and  back  again,  I  cannot  tell  you.  But  'twas  until, 
hearing  no  pause  in  the  sleepers*  chorus,  I  found  courage 
for  another  peep  :  and  that  must  have  been  some  time. 

There  were  but  six  rascals  besides  the  Captain  (so  that 
Jacques  must  have  died  hard,  thought  I),  and  such  a 
raflSe  of  arms  and  legs  and  swollen  upturned  faces  as  they 
made  I  defy  you  to  picture.  For  they  were  packed 
close  as  herrings ;  and  the  hut  was  fill'd  up  with  their 
horses,  ready  saddled,  and  rubbing  shoulder  to  loin,  so 
narrow  was  the  room.  It  needed  the  open  window  to 
give  them  air :  and  even  so,  'twas  not  over-fresh  inside. 

I  had  no  mind  to  stay  :  but  before  leaving  found 
myself  in  the  way  of  playing  these  villains  a  pretty 
trick.  To  right  and  left  of  the  window,  above  their 
heads,  extended  two  rude  shelves  that  now  were  heap'd 
with  what  I  conjectured  to  be  the  spoils  of  the  larder  of 
the  "Three  Cups.*'  Holding  my  breath  and  thrusting 
my  head  and  shoulders  into  the  room,  I  ran  my  hand 
along  and  was  quickly  possessed  of  a  boil'd  ham,  two 
capons,  a  loaf,  the  half  of  a  cold  pie,  and  a  basket 
holding  three  dozen  eggs.  All  these  prizes  I  filched 
one  by  one,  with  infinite  caution. 

I    was    gently   pulling    the    basket    through    tha 


I   FIND   A   OOMRADB.  95 

window  hole,  when  I  heard  one  of  the  crew  yawn 
and  stretch  himself  in  his  sleep.  So,  determining  to 
risk  no  more,  I  quietly  pack'd  the  basket,  slung  it  on 
my  right  arm,  and  with  the  ham  gjaspM  by  the 
knuckle  in  my  left,  made  my  way  up  the  stream. 

'Twas  thus  laden  that  I  enterM  the  dingle,  and  came 
on  the  sad  sight  therein.  I  set  down  the  ham  as  a 
thing  to  be  asham'd  of,  and  barM  my  head.  The  girl 
lifted  her  face,  and  turning,  all  white  and  tragical,  saw 
me. 

"  My  father  is  dead,  sir." 

I  stoop' d  and  piFd  a  heap  of  fresh  snow  over  the 
blood  stains.  There  was  no  intent  in  this  but  to  hide 
the  pity  that  chok'd  me.  She  had  still  to  hear  about 
her  brother,  Anthony.  Turning,  as  by  a  sudden 
thought,  I  took  her  hand.  She  lookM  into  my  eyes, 
and  her  own  filled  with  tears.  ^Twas  the  human  touch 
that  loosen'd  their  flow,  I  think :  and  sinking  down 
again  beside  her  father,  she  wept  her  fill. 

"Mistress  Killigrew,'*  I  said,  as  soon  as  the  first 
violence  of  her  tears  was  abated,  "  I  have  still  some 
n(;ws  that  is  ill  hearing.  Your  enemies  are  encamp'd  in 
the  woods,  about  a  half-mile  below  this'' — and  with 
that  I  told  my  story. 

"  They  have  done  their  worst,  sir.' 


w 


96  THB    SPLENDID   iPUlL 

.     "  No." 

She  looked  at  me  with  a  question  on  her  lip. 

Said  I,  "  You  must  believe  me  yet  a  short  while 
without  questioning." 

Considering  for  a  moment,  she  nodded.  "  You 
have  a  right,  sir,  to  be  trusted,  tho'  I  know  not  so 
much  as  your  name.  Then  we  must  stay  close  in 
hiding  ? "  she  added  very  sensibly,  tho'  with  the  last 
word  her  voice  trailed  off,  and  she  began  again  to 
weep. 

But  in  time,  having  cover'd  the  dead  baronet's  body 
with  sprays  of  the  wither'd  bracken,  I  drew  her  to  a  little 
distance  and  prevailed  on  her  to  nibble  a  crust  of  the 
loaf.  Now,  all  this  while,  it  must  be  remembered,  I 
was  in  my  shirt-sleeves,  and  the  weather  bitter  cold. 
Which  at  length  her  sorrow  allowed  her  to  notice. 

"  Why,  you  are  shivering,  sore  I "  she  said,  and 
running,  drew  my  bufE-coat  from  her  father's  body, 
and  held  it  out  to  me. 

"  Indeed,"  I  answer'd,  "  I  was  thinking  of  another 
expedition  to  warm  my  blood."  And  promising  to  be 
back  in  half  an  hour,  I  followed  down  my  former  tracks 
towards  the  stream. 

Within  twenty  minutes  I  waa  back,  running  and 
well-nigh  shouting  with  joy. 


I   FIND    A    COMRADE.  97 

Come  ! "  I  cried  to  her,  "  come  and  see  for  your- 
self !  " 

What  had  happened  was  this  : — Wading  cautiously- 
down  the  brook,  I  had  cause  suddenly  to  prick  up  my 
ears  and  come  to  a  halt.  ^Twas  the  muffled  tramp  of 
hoofs  that  I  heard,  and  creeping  a  bit  further,  I  caught 
a  glimpse,  beyond  the  hut,  of  a  horse  and  rider  dis- 
appearing down  the  woods.  He  was  the  last  of  the 
party,  as  I  guess'd  from  the  sound  of  voices  and  jingling 
of  bits  further  down  the  slope.  Advancing  on  the  hut 
with  more  boldness,  I  found  it  deserted.  I  scrambled 
up  on  the  bank  and  round  to  the  entrance.  The  snow 
before  it  was  trampled  and  sullied  by  the  footmarks  of 
men  and  horses :  and  as  I  noted  this,  came  Settle's 
voice  calling  up  the  slope — 

"  Jerry— Jerry  Toy  1  " 

A  nearer  voice  haiPd  in  answer. 

"Where's  Reuben?" 

*'  Coming,  Captain — close  behind  I " 

"  Curse  him  for  a  loitering  idiot  I  We've  wasted 
time  enough,  as  'tis,''  called  back  the  Captain.  "  How 
in  thunder  is  a  man  to  find  the  road  out  of  this  cursed 
wood?" 

"  Straight  on,  Cap'n — you  can't  miss  it,*'  shouted 
another  voice,  not  two  gunshots  below. 

H 


98  THB    SPLENDID    SPDR. 

A  volcanc  of  oaths  pourM  up  from  Settle.  I  did 
not  wait  for  the  end  of  them  :  but  ran  back  for  Mistress 
Delia. 

Together  we  descended  to  the  hut.  By  this  time 
the  voices  had  faded  away  in  distance.  Yet  to  make 
sure  that  the  rascals  had  really  departed,  we  followed 
their  tracks  for  some  way,  beside  the  stream ;  and 
suddenly  came  to  a  halt  with  cries  of  joyful  surprise. 

The  brook  had  led  us  to  a  point  where,  over  a  stony 
fall  veil'd  with  brown  bracken,  it  plunged  into  a  narrow 
ravine.  Standing  on  the  lip,  where  the  water  took  a 
smoother  glide  before  leaping,  we  saw  the  line  of  the 
ravine  mark'd  by  a  rift  in  the  pines,  and  through  this  a 
slice  of  the  country  that  lay  below.  'Twas  a  level 
plain,  well-watered,  and  dotted  here  and  there  with 
houses.  A  range  of  wooded  hills  clos'd  the  view,  and 
towards  them  a  broad  road  wound  gently,  till  the  eye 
lost  it  at  their  base.  All  this  was  plain  enough,  in 
spite  of  the  snow  that  covert  the  landscape.  For  the 
sun  had  burst  out  above,  and  the  few  flakes  that  still 
fell  looked  black  against  his  brilliance  and  the  dazzling 
country  below. 

But  what  caused  our  joy  was  to  see,  along  the  road, 
a  small  cavalcade  moving  away  from  us,  with  many 
bright  glances  of  light  and  colour,  as  their  steel-caps 


I   PIND   A    COMEADE.  99 

and  sashes  took  the  sunshine — a  pretty  sight,  and  the 
prettier  because  it  meant  our  present  deliverance. 

The  girl  beside  me  gave  a  cry  of  delight,  then 
sigh'd ;  and  after  a  minute  began  to  walk  back  towards 
the  hut :  where  I  left  her,  and  ran  up-hill  for  the  basket 
and  ham.  On  my  return,  I  found  her  examining  a  heap 
of  rusty  tools  that,  it  seemed,  she  had  found  on  a  shelf 
of  the  building.  'Twas  no  light  help  to  the  good  fel- 
lowship that  afterwards  united  us,  that  from  the  first 
I  could  read  her  thoughts  often  without  words;  and 
for  this  reason,  that  her  eyes  were  as  candid  as  the  noon- 
day. 

So  now  I  answered  her  aloud — 

"  This  afternoon  we  may  venture  down  to  the  plain, 
where  no  doubt  we  shall  find  a  clergyman  to  sell  us 
a  patch  of  holy  ground " 

"  Holy  ground  ?  "  She  looked  at  me  awhile  and 
shook  her  head.  "  I  am  not  of  your  religion,"  she 
■aid. 

"  And  your  father  ?  " 

"I  think  no  man  ever  discover*d  my  father's  re- 
ligion. Perhaps  there  was  none  to  discover :  but  he 
was  no  bad  father'* — she  steadied  her  voice  and 
went  on : — "  He  would  prefer  the  hill-side  to  your 
'  holy  ground/  " 

Hi 


100  THB   SPLENLID    SPUE. 

So,  an  hour  later,  I  delved  his  grave  in  the  fr^stj 
earth,  close  by  the  spot  where  he  lay.  Somehow,  1 
shivered  all  the  while,  and  had  a  cruel  shooting  pain  in 
my  wound  that  was  like  to  have  mastered  me  before  the 
task  was  ended.  But  I  managed  to  lower  the  body  softly 
into  the  hole  and  to  cover  it  reverently  from  sight :  and 
afterwards  stood  leaning  on  my  spade  and  feeling  very 
light  in  the  head,  while  the  girl  knelt  and  pray'd  for 
her  father's  soul. 

And  the  picture  of  her  aa  she  knelt  is  the  last  I 
remember,  till  I  opened  my  eyes,  and  was  amazed 
to  find  myself  on  my  back,  and  staring  up  at  dark- 
ness. 

""What  has  happened?" 

"  I  think  you  are  very  ill,"  said  a  voice  :  "  can  you 
lean  on  me,  and  reach  the  hut?" 

"  Why,  yes  :  that  is,  I  think  so.  Why  is  everything 
dark  ?  " 

"  The  sun  has  been  down  for  hours.  You  have 
been  in  a  swoon  first,  and  then  talkM — oh,  such  non- 
sense I     Shame  on  me,  to  let  you  catch  this  chill  f ' 

She  helpM  me  to  my  feet  and  steadied  me :  and  how 
we  reach'd  the  hut  I  cannot  tell  you.  It  took  more 
than  one  weary  hour,  as  I  now  know  ;  but,  at  the  time, 
hours  and  minutes  were  one  to  me. 


I   FUTD    A    COMRADB.  101 

In  that  hut  I  lay  four  nights  and  four  days,  between 
ftgue-fit  and  fever.  And  that  is  all  the  account  I  can 
give  of  the  time,  save  that,  on  the  second  day,  the  girl 
left  me  alone  in  the  hut  and  descended  to  the  plain, 
where,  after  asking  at  many  cottages  for  a  physician, 
she  was  forced  to  be  content  with  an  old  woman  reputed 
to  be  amazingly  well  skilled  in  herbs  and  medicines; 
whom,  after  a  day's  trial,  she  tum'd  out  of  doors.  On 
the  fourth  day,  fearing  for  my  life,  she  made  another 
descent,  and  coming  to  a  wayside  tavern,  purchas'd  a 
pint  of  aqua  vitae,  carried  it  back,  and  mixt  a  potion 
that  threw  me  into  a  profuse  sweat.  The  same  evening 
I  sat  up,  a  sound  man. 

Indeed,  so  thoroughly  was  I  recoverM  that,  waking 
early  next  morning,  and  finding  my  sweet  nurse  asleep 
from  sheer  weariness,  in  a  corner  of  the  hut,  I  staggered 
up  from  my  bed  of  dried  bracken,  and  out  into  the  pure 
air.  Rare  it  was  to  stand  and  drink  it  in  like  wine.  A 
footstep  arous'd  me.  'Twas  Mistress  Delia :  and  turn- 
ing, I  held  out  my  hand. 

*'  Now  this  is  famous,"  said  she :  "  a  day  or  two  will 
Bee  you  as  good  a  man  as  ever.*' 

"  A  day  or  two  ?  To-morrow  at  latest,  I  shall  make 
tarial  to  start."  I  noted  a  sudden  change  on  her  face, 
ftnd  added  :  "  Indeed,  you  must  hear  my  reasons  before 


102  THE    SPLENDID   SPUR. 

setting  me  down  for  an  ingrate ; "  and  told  her  of 
the  King's  letter  that  I  carried.  "  I  hoped  that  for  a 
while  our  ways  might  lie  together,"  said  I ;  and  broke 
off,  for  she  was  looking  me  earnestly  in  the  face. 

"  Sir,  as  you  know,  my  brother  Anthony  was  to 
have  met  me — nay,  for  pity's  sake,  turn  not  your  face 
away  !  I  have  guess'd — the  sword  you  carry — I  markM 
it.     Sir,  be  merciful,  and  tell  me  1 " 

I  led  her  a  little  aside  to  the  foot  of  a  tall  pine  ;  and 
there,  tho'  it  wrung  my  heart,  told  her  all ;  and  left  her 
to  wrestle  with  this  final  sorrow.  She  was  so  tender  a 
thing  to  be  stricken  thus,  that  I  who  had  dealt  the  blow 
crept  back  to  the  hut,  covering  my  eyes.  In  an  hour's 
time  I  looked  out.     She  was  gone. 

At  nightfall  she  returned,  white  with  grief  and 
fatigue ;  yet  I  was  glad  to  see  her  eyes  red  and  swol'n 
with  weeping.  Throughout  our  supper  she  kept 
silence ;  but  when  'twas  over,  look'd  up  and  spoke  in  a 
steady  tone — 

"  Sir,  I  have  a  favour  to  ask,  and  must  risk  being 
held  importunate " 

"  From  you  to  me,"  I  put  in,  "  all  talk  of  favours 
had  best  be  dropp'd." 

"  No — listen.  If  ever  it  befel  you  to  lose  father  or 
mother  or  dearly  loved  friend,  you  will  know  how  the 


I   FIND    A    COMRA.DB.  103 

anguish  stuns — Oh  sir  !  to-day  the  sun  seemM  fallen  out 
of  heaven,  and  I  a  blind  creature  left  groping  in  the 
void.  Indeed,  sir,  ^tis  no  wonder :  I  had  a  father, 
brother,  and  servant  ready  to  die  for  me— three  hearts 
to  love  and  lean  on  :  and  to-day  they  are  gone." 

I  would  have  spoken,  but  she  held  up  a  hand. 

"  Now  when  you  spoke  of  Anthony — a  dear  lad  ! — 
I  lay  for  some  time  dazed  with  grief.  By  little  and 
little,  as  the  truth  grew  plainer,  the  pain  grew  also  past 
bearing.  I  stood  up  and  stagger'd  into  the  woods  to 
escape  it.  I  went  fast  and  straight,  heeding  nothing, 
for  at  first  my  senses  were  all  confused  :  but  in  a  while 
the  walking  clearM  my  wits,  and  I  could  think :  and 
thinking,  I  could  weep  :  and  having  wept,  could  fortify 
my  heart.  Here  is  the  upshot,  sir — tho^  'tis  held  im- 
modest for  a  maid  to  ask  even  far  less  of  a  man.  We 
are  both  bound  for  Cornwall — you  on  an  honourable 
mission,  I  for  my  father's  estate  of  Gleys,  wherefrom 
(as  your  tale  proves)  some  unseen  hands  are  thrusting 
me.  Alike  we  carry  our  lives  in  our  hands.  You  must 
go  forward  :  I  may  not  go  back.  For  from  a  King  who 
cannot  right  his  own  affairs  there  is  little  hope ;  and  in 
Cornwall  I  have  surer  friends  than  he.  Therefore  take 
me,  sir — take  me  for  a  comrade  !  Am  I  sad  ?  Do  you 
fear  a  weary  journey  ?     I  will  smile — laugh — sing — put 


(^ 


104  THH    SPLENDID    SPUk. 

sorrow  behind  me.  I  will  contrive  a  thousand  ways  to 
cheat  the  milestones.  At  the  first  hint  of  tears,  discard 
me,  and  go  your  way  with  no  prick  of  conscience. 
Only  try  me — oh,  the  shame  of  speaking  thus  I  " 

Her  voice  had  grown  more  rapid  towards  the  close  : 
and  now,  breaking  off,  she  put  both  hands  to  cover  her 
face,  that  was  hot  with  blushes.  I  went  over  and  took 
them  in  mine : 

'*  You  have  made  me  the  blithest  man  alive," 
said  I. 

She  drew  back  a  pace  with  a  frightenM  look,  and 
would  have  pulFd  her  hands  away. 

"  Because,''  I  went  on  quickly,  "  you  have  paid  me 
this  high  compliment,  to  trust  me.  Proud  was  I  to 
listen  to  you ;  and  merrily  will  the  miles  pass  with  you 
for  comrade.  And  so  I  say — Mistress  Killigrew,  take 
me  for  your  servant.'* 

To  my  extreme  discomposure,  as  I  droppM  her  hands, 
her  eyes  were  twinkling  with  laughter. 

"  Dear  now ;  I  see  a  dull  prospect  ahead  if  we  use 
these  long  titles  I  ** 

"  But " 

"  Indeed,  sir,  please  yourself.  Only  as  I  intend  to 
call  you  '  Jack,'  perhaps  '  Delia'  will  be  more  of  a  piece 
than  '  Mistress  Killigrew.'  "     She  dropp'd  me  a  mock 


I   PDTD   A    COMEADB.  105 

curtsey.     "  And  now,  Jack,  be  a  good  boy,  and  hitch 
me  this  quilt  across  the  hut.     I  bought  it  yesterday  at  a 

cottage  below  here " 

She  ended  the  sentence  with  the  prettiest  blush 
imaginable ;  and  so,  having  fixM  her  screen,  we  shook 
hands  on  our  comradeship,  and  wish'd  each  other  §^ood- 
night. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

I    LOSK   THB    KING^S    LETTER;     AND   AM    CARBJBD  TO 

BRISTOL. 

Almost  before  daylight  we  were  afoot,  and  the  first  ray 
of  cold  sunshine  found  U8  stepping  from  the  woods  into 
the  plain,  where  now  the  snow  was  vanished  and  a 
glistening  coat  of  rime  spread  over  all  things.  Down 
here  the  pines  gave  way  to  bare  elms  and  poplars, 
thickly  dotted,  and  among  them  the  twisting  smoke  of 
farmstead  and  cottage,  here  and  there,  and  the  morning 
stir  of  kitchen  and  stable  very  musical  in  the  crisp  air. 

Delia  stepp'd  along  beside  me,  humming  an  air  or 
breaking  off  to  chatter.  Meeting  us,  you  would  have 
said  we  had  never  a  care.  The  road  went  stretching 
away  to  the  north-west  and  the  hills  against  the  sky 
there;  whither  beyond,  we  neither  knew  nor  (being 
both  young,  and  one,  by  this  time,  pretty  deep  in  love) 
did  greatly  care.  Yet  meeting  with  a  waggoner  and 
his  team,  we  drew  up  to  enquire. 

The  \va<r<roner  had  a  shock  of  whitish  hair  and  a 
fuce  purple-red  above,  by  reason  of  the  cold,  and  purple- 


1    LOSE    THE    KING'S    LBTTEa.  107 

black  below,  for  lack  of  a  barber.  He  pursM  up  his 
mouth  and  look'd  us  slowly  up  and  down. 

"  Come/'  said  I,  "  you  are  not  deaf,  I  hope,  nor 
dumb." 

"  Send  I  may  niver  1 "  the  fellow  ejaculated,  slowly 
and  with  contemplation  :  "  'tis  an  unseemly  sight,  yet 
tickling  to  the  mirthfully  minded.  Haw — haw  !  "  He 
checked  his  laughter  suddenly  and  stood  like  a  stone 
image  beside  his  horses. 

"  Good  sir,''  said  Delia,  laying  a  hand  on  my  arm 
(for  I  was  growing  nettled),  '^your  mirth  is  a  riddle: 
but  teU  us  our  way  and  you  are  free  to  laugh." 

"  Oh,  Scarlet — Scarlet !  "  answered  he  :  "  and  to  me, 
that  am  a  man  o'  blushes  from  my  cradle  1 " 

Convinc'd  by  this  that  the  fellow  must  be  an  idiot, 
I  told  him  so,  and  left  him  staring  after  us ;  nor  heard 
the  sound  of  his  horses  moving  on  again  for  many 
minutes. 

After  this  we  met  about  a  dozen  on  the  road,  and 
all  paus'd  to  stare.  But  from  one — an  old  woman — we 
leam'd  we  were  walking  towards  Marlboro',  and  about 
noon  were  over  the  hills  and  looking  into  the  valley 
beyond. 

'Twas  very  like  the  other  vale;  only  a  pleasant 
stream  wound  along  the  bottom,  by  the  banks  of  which 


108  THE    SPLENDID    BPUB. 

the  road  took  us.  Here,  by  a  bridge,  we  came  to  an 
inn  bearing  the  sign  of  "  The  Broad  Face/'  and  entered  : 
for  Captain  Settle's  stock  of  victuals  was  now  done.  A 
80ur-fac'd  woman  met  us  at  the  door. 

"  Do  you  stay  here/'  Delia  advis'd  me,  "  and  drink 
a  mug  of  beer  while  I  bargain  with  the  hostess  for  fresh 
food."    She  followed  the  sour-fac'd  woman  into  the  house. 

But  out  she  comes  presently  with  her  cheeks  flaming 
and  a  pair  of  bright  eyes.  "  Come  !  "  she  commanded, 
"  come  at  once  !  "  Setting  down  my  half-emptied  mug, 
I  went  after  her  across  the  bridge  and  up  the  road, 
wondering.  In  this  way  we  must  have  walk'd  for  a 
mile  or  more  before  she  turned  and  stamped  her  little 
foot — 

'^ Horrible  I"  she  cried.  "Horrible — wicked  — 
ahamef  ul  1  Ugh  I  "     There  were  tears  in  her  eyes. 

'*  What  is  shameful  ?  " 

She  made  no  reply,  but  walked  on  again  quickly. 

"  I  am  getting  hungry,  for  my  part,"  sigh'd  I, 
after  a  little. 

"  Then  you  must  starve  I  *' 

"Oh  I" 

She  wheel'd  round  again. 

"  Jack,  this  will  never  do.  If  you  are  to  have  • 
comrade,  let  it  be  a  boy." 


I    LOSE   THE    king's    LBTTEa.  109 

"  Now,   I    am    very    passably    content   as    things 


•re." 


"  Nonsense :  at  Marlboro',  I  mean,  you  must  buy 
me  a  suit  of  boy's  clothes.  What  are  you  hearkening 
to?" 

"  I  thought  I  heard  the  noise  of  guns — or  is  it 
thunder?" 

"  Dear  Jack,  don't  say  'tis  thunder !  I  do  mortally 
fear  thunder — and  mice." 

"  'Twouldn't  be  thunder  at  this  time  of  year.  No, 
'tis  guns  firing." 

"  Where  ? — not  that  I  mind  guns." 

"Ahead  of  us." 

On  the  far  side  of  the  valley  we  enter'd  a  wood, 
thinking  by  this  to  shorten  our  way :  for  the  road  here 
took  a  long  bend  to  eastward.  Now,  at  first  this  wood 
seem'd  of  no  considerable  size,  but  thicken'd  and  spread 
as  we  advanced.  'Twas  only,  however,  after  passing 
the  ridge,  and  when  daylight  began  to  fail  us,  that  I 
became  alarm'd.  For  the  wood  grew  denser,  with  a 
tangle  of  paths  criss-crossing  amid  the  undergrowth. 
And  just  then  came  the  low  mutter  of  cannon  again, 
shaking  the  earth.  We  began  to  run  forward,  tripping 
in  the  gloom  over  brambles,  and  stumbling  into 
holes. 


110  THE    SPLENDID    SFUK. 

For  a  mile  or  so  this  lasted  :  and  then,  withont 
warning,  I  heard  a  sound  behind  me,  and  looked  back, 
to  find  Deha  sunk  upon  the  ground. 

"  Jack,  here's  a  to-do  I " 

"  What's  amiss  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  am  going  to  swoon ! " 

The  words  were  scarce  out,  when  there  sounded  a 
crackling  and  snapping  of  twigs  ahead,  and  two  figures 
came  rushing  towards  us — a  man  and  a  woman.  The 
man  carried  an  infant  in  his  arms  :  and  tho'  I  call'd  on 
them  to  stop,  the  pair  ran  by  us  with  no  more  notice 
than  if  we  had  been  stones.  Only  the  woman  cried, 
"  Dear  Lord,  save  us  I ''  and  wrung  her  hands  as  she 
pass'd  out  of  sight. 

"  This  is  strange  conduct,"  thought  I :  but  peering 
down,  saw  that  Delia's  face  was  white  and  motionless. 
She  had  swoon'd,  indeed,  from  weariness  and  hunger. 
So  I  took  her  in  my  arms  and  stumbled  forward,  hoping 
to  find  the  end  of  the  wood  soon.  For  now  the  rattle 
of  artillery  came  louder  and  incessant  through  the  trees, 
and  mingling  with  it,  a  multitude  of  dull  shouts  and 
outcries.  At  first  I  was  minded  to  run  after  the  man 
and  woman,  but  on  second  thought,  resolved  to  see  the 
danger  before  hiding  from  it. 

The  trees,  in  a  short  while,  grew  sparser,  and  be- 


I   LOSE   THE    KING'S    LETTEK.  Ill 

tween  the  stems  I  marked  a  ruddy  light  glowing.  And 
then  I  came  out  on  an  open  space  upon  the  hill-sidcj 
with  a  dip  of  earth  in  front ;  and  beyond,  a  long  ridge 
of  pines  standing  up  black,  because  of  a  red  glare  behind 
them;  and  saw  that  this  came  not  from  any  setting  sun, 
but  was  the  light  of  a  conflagration. 

The  glare  danced  and  quivered  in  the  sky,  as  1 
crossed  the  hollow.  It  made  even  Delia's  white  cheek 
seem  rosy.  Up  amid  the  pines  I  clamber'd,  and  along 
the  ridge  to  where  it  broke  off  in  a  steep  declivity. 
And  lo !  in  a  minute  I  looked  down  as  'twere  into  the 
infernal  pit. 

There  was  a  whole  town  burning  below.  And  in 
the  streets  men  were  fighting,  as  coidd  be  told  by  their 
shouts  and  the  rattle  and  blaze  of  musketry.  For  a 
garment  of  smoke  lay  over  aU  and  hid  them :  only  the 
turmoil  beat  up  as  from  a  furnace,  and  the  flames  of 
burning  thatches,  and  quick  jets  of  fire-arms  like  light- 
ning in  a  thunder-cloud.  Great  sparks  floated  past  ni, 
and  over  the  trees  at  our  back.  A  hot  blast  breathed 
on  our  cheeks.  Now  and  then  you  might  hear  a  human 
shriek  distinct  amid  the  din,  and  this  spoke  terribly 
to  the  heart. 

Now  the  town  was  Marlboro',  and  the  attacking 
foioe  a  body  of  royal  troops  sent  from  Oxford  to  oust 


11£  THE    SPLKNDID    SPUK. 

the  garrison  of  the  Parliament,  which  they  did  thi» 
same  night,  with  great  slaughter,  driving  the  rebels 
out  of  the  place,  and  back  on  the  road  to  Bristol.  Had 
we  guessM  this,  much  ill-luck  had  been  spared  us ;  but 
we  knew  nought  of  it,  nor  whether  friends  or  foes  were 
getting  the  better.  So  (Delia  being  by  this  time  re 
covered  a  little)  we  determined  to  pass  the  night  in  the 
woods,  and  on  the  morrow  to  give  the  place  a  wide 
berth. 

Retreating,  then,  to  the  hollow  (that  lay  on  the  lee- 
side  of  the  ridge,  away  from  the  north  wind) ,  I  gathered 
a  pile  of  great  stones,  and  spread  my  cloak  thereover  for 
Delia.  To  sleep  was  impossible,  even  with  the  will  for 
it.  For  the  tumult  and  fighting  went  on,  and  only  died 
out  about  an  hour  before  dawn  :  and  once  or  twice  we 
were  troubled  to  hear  the  sound  of  people  running  on 
the  ridge  above.  So  we  sat  and  talked  in  low  voices 
till  dawn;  and  grew  more  desperately  hungered  than 
ever. 

With  the  chill  of  daybreak  we  started,  meaning  to 
get  quit  of  the  neighbourhood  before  any  espied  us; 
and  fetched  a  compass  to  the  south  without  another 
look  at  Marlboro*.  At  the  end  of  two  houi-s,  turning 
north-west  again,  we  came  to  some  water-meadowa 
beside  a  tiny  river  (the  Ken  net,  as  I  think),  and  saw, 


I   LOSE   THE    king's    LETTER.  113 

some  way  beyond,  a  high  road  that  crossM  to  our  side 
(only  the  bridge  was  now  broken  down),  and  further 
yet,  a  thick  smoke  curling  up ;  but  whence  this  came  I 
could  not  see.  Now  we  had  been  avoiding  all  roads 
this  morning,  and  hiding  at  every  sound  of  footsteps. 
But  hunger  was  making  us  bold.  I  bade  Delia  crouch 
down  by  the  stream's  bank,  where  many  alders  grew, 
and  set  off  towards  this  column  of  smoke. 

By  the  spot  where  the  road  crossM  I  noted  that 
many  men  and  horses  had  lately  pass'd  hereby  to  west- 
ward, and,  by  their  footmarks,  at  a  great  speed.  A 
little  further,  and  I  came  on  a  broken  musket  flung 
against  the  hedge,  with  a  nauseous  mess  of  blood  and 
sandy  hairs  about  the  stock  of  it ;  and  just  beyond  was 
a  dead  horse,  his  legs  sticking  up  like  bent  poles  across 
the  road.  'Twas  here  that  my  blood  went  cold  on  a 
sudden,  to  hear  a  dismal  groaning  not  far  ahead.  I 
stood  still,  holding  my  breath,  and  then  ran  forward 
again. 

The  road  took  a  twist  that  led  me  face  to  face  with 
a  small  whitewashed  cottage,  smear'd  with  black  stains 
of  burning.  For  seemingly  it  had  been  fir'd  in  one  or 
two  places,  only  the  flames  had  died  out :  and  from  the 
back,  where  some  outbuilding  yet  smouldered,  rose  the 
smoke  that  I  spied.  But  what  brought  me  to  a  stand 
X 


114  THE    SPLENDID    8PUB- 

was  to  see  the  doorway   all  crackM  and  charr'd,    and 

across  it  a  soldier  stretched — a  green-coated  rebel — and 

quite  dead.     His  face  lay  among  the  burnt  ruins  of  the 

do<»r,  that  had  wofuUy  singed   his  beard  and  hair.     A 

stain  of  blood  ran  across  the  door-stone  and  into  the 

road. 

I  was  gazing  upon  him  and  shuddering,  when  again 

I  heard  the  groans.  They  issued  from  the  upper  cham- 
ber of  the  cottage.  I  stepped  over  the  dead  soldier  and 
mounted  the  ladder  that  led  upstairs. 

The  upper  room  was  but  a  loft.  In  it  were  two 
beds,  whereof  one  was  empty.  On  the  edge  of  the 
other  sat  up  a  boy  of  sixteen  or  thereabouts,  stark  naked 
and  moaning  miserably.  With  one  hand  he  seem'd 
trying  to  cover  a  big  wound  that  gaped  in  his  chest : 
the  other,  as  my  head  rose  over  the  ladder,  he  stretched 
out  with  all  the  fingers  spread.  And  this  was  his 
last  effort.  As  I  stumbled  up,  his  fingers  closed  in 
a  spasm  of  pain ;  his  hands  dropped,  and  the  body 
tumbled  back  on  the  bed,  where  it  lay  with  the  legs 
dangling. 

The  poor  lad  must  have  been  stabb'd  as  he  lay 
asleep.  For  by  the  bedside  I  found  nis  clothes  neatly 
folded  and  without  a  speck  of  blood.  They  were  clean, 
♦houtrh  coarse  ;  %o  thinking  they  would  serve  for  Delia, 


I   LOSE    THE    king's    LETTEft.  116 

I  took  them,  albeit  with  some  scruples  at  robbing  the 
dead,  and  covering  the  body  with  a  sheet,  made  my  way 
downstairs. 

Here,  on  a  high  shelf  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder, 
I  discovered  a  couple  of  loaves  and  some  milk,  and  also, 
lying  hard  by,  a  pair  of  shepherd's  shears,  which  I  took 
also,  having  a  purpose  for  them.  By  this  time,  being 
sick  enough  of  the  place,  I  was  glad  to  make  all  speed 
back  to  Delia. 

She  was  still  waiting  among  the  leafless  alders,  and 
clapp'd  her  hands  to  see  the  two  loaves  under  my 
arm. 

Said  I,  flinging  down  the  clothes,  and  munching  at 
my  share  of  the  bread — 

"  Here  is  the  boy's  suit  that  you  wisVd  for." 

"  Oh,  dear !  'tis  not  a  very  choice  one."  Her  face 
fell. 

''  All  the  better  for  escaping  notice." 

"  But— but  I  like  to  be  notic'd  I  " 

Nevertheless,  when  breakfast  was  done,  she  c  d- 
sented  to  try  on  the  clothes.  I  left  her  eyeing  them 
doubtfully,  and  strolFd  away  by  the  river's  bank.  In 
a  while  her  voice  call'd  to  me — 

*'  Oh,  Jack— they  do  not  fit  at  all !  " 

*'  Why,   'tis   admirable ! "    said   I,   returning,   and 
I  2 


116  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

scanning  her.  Now  this  was  a  lie  :  but  she  took  m« 
more  than  ever,  so  pretty  and  comical  she  look'd  in  the 
dress. 

"  And  I  cannot  walk  a  bit  in  them ! "  she  pouted, 
strutting  up  and  down. 

"  Swing  your  arms  more,  and  let  them  hang 
looser.^' 

"And  my  hair.  Oh  Jack,  I  have  such  beautiful 
hair !  " 

"  It  must  come  o£E/'  said  I,  pulling  the  shears  out 
of  my  pocket. 

"  And  look  at  these  huge  boots  !  '* 

Indeed,  this  was  the  main  trouble,  for  I  knew  they 
would  hurt  her  in  walking  :  yet  she  made  more  fuss 
about  her  hair,  and  only  gave  in  when  I  scolded  her 
roundly.  So  I  took  the  shears  and  clipped  the  chestnut 
curls,  one  by  one,  while  she  cried  for  vexation ;  and 
took  occasion  of  her  tears  to  smuggle  the  longest  lock 
inside  my  doublet. 

«  «  «  «  « 

But,  an  hour  after,  she  was  laughing  again,  and  had 
learnt  to  cock  the  poor  country  lad's  cap  rakishly  over  one 
eye  :  and  by  evening  was  walking  with  a  swagger  and 
longing  (I  know)  to  meet  with  folks.  For,  to  spare  her 
the  sight  of  the  ruin'd  cottage,  I  had  taken  her  round 


I   LOSE    THE    KING'S    LETTER.  117 

through  the  fields,  and  by  every  by-path  that  seem'd 
to  lead  westward.  'Twas  safer  to  journey  thus ;  and  all 
the  way  she  praetis'd  a  man's  carriage  and  airs,  and  how 
to  wink  and  whistle  and  swing  a  stick.  And  once, 
when  she  left  one  of  her  shoes  in  a  wet  ditch,  she  said 
"  d — n  I  "  as  natural  as  life  :  and  then 

We  jumped  over  a  hedge,  plump  into  an  outpost  of 
rebels,  as  they  sat  munching  their  supper. 

They  were  six  in  all,  and  must  have  been  sitting 
like  mice  :  for  all  I  know  of  it  is  this.  I  had  climbed 
the  hedge  first,  and  was  helping  Delia  over,  when  out 
of  the  ground,  as  it  seemM,  a  voice  shriekM,  "  Run — 
run ! — the  King's  men  are  on  us  I  "  and  then,  my  foot 
slipping,  down  I  went  on  to  the  shoulders  of  a  thick-set 
man,  and  well  nigh  broke  his  neck  as  he  turned  to  look 
up  at  me. 

At  first,  the  whole  six  were  for  running,  I  believe. 
But  seeing  only  a  lad  stretched  on  his  face,  and  a  second 
on  the  hedge,  they  thought  better  of  it.  Before  I  could 
gcramble  up,  one  pair  of  hands  was  screwed  about  my 
neck,  another  at  my  heels,  and  in  a  trice  there  we  were 
pinioned. 

'*  Fetch  the  lantern,  Zacchaeus.'* 

'Twas  quickly  Ut,  and  thrust  into  my  face ;  and  very 
foolish  I  must  have  looked.     The  fellows  were  all  clad 


118  THE    BPLEtlDID    SPUE. 

in  green  coats,  much  soil'd  with  mud  and  powder.     And 
they  grinnM  in  my  face  till  I  long'd  to  kick  them. 

"  Search  the  malignant !  "  cried  one.  "  Question 
him,"  caird  out  another;  and  forthwith  began  a  long 
interrogatory  concerning  the  movements  of  his  Majesty's 
troops,  from  which,  indeed,  I  learnt  much  concerning 
the  late  encounter :  but  of  course  could  answer  nougrht. 
'Twas  only  natural  they  should  interpret  this  silence  for 
obstinacy. 

"  March  'em  off  to  Captain  Stubbs  I  " 

"  Halloa !  "  shouted  a  pock-mark'd  trooper,  that  had 
his  hand  thrust  in  on  my  breast :  "  bring  the  lantern 
close  here.     What's  this  ?  " 

'Twas,  alas !  the  King's  letter :  and  I  bit  my  lip 
while  they  cluster'd  round,  turning  the  lantern's  yellow 
glare  upon  the  superscription. 

"  Lads,  there's  promotion  in  this  I "  shouted  the 
thick-set  man  I  had  tumbled  on  (who,  it  seem'd,  was  the 
sergeant  in  the  troop)  :  "  hand  me  the  letter,  there  I 
ZacchaeuB  Martin  and  Tom  Pine — ^you  two  bide  here  on 
duty :  t'other  three  fall  in  about  the  prisoners — quick 
march  I     '  The  wicked  have  digged  a  pit ' " 

The  rogue  ended  up  with  a  tag  from  the  Psalmist. 

We  were  march'd  down  the  road  for  a  mile  or  more, 
till  we  heard   a  loud   bawling,  as  of  a  man   in   much 


I    LOSE    THE    KING'S    LETTER.  119 

bodily  pain,  and  soon  came  to  a  small  village,  where,, 
under  a  tavern  lamp,  by  the  door,  was  a  man  perehM  up 
on  a  tub,  and  shouting  forth  portions  of  the  Scripture 
to  some  twenty  or  more  green-coats  assembled  round. 
Our  conductor  pushed  past  these,  and  entered  the  tavern. 
At  a  door  to  the  left  in  the  passage  he  halted,  and 
knocking  once,  thrust  us  inside. 

The  room  was  bare  and  lit  very  dimly  by  two  tallow 
candles,  set  in  bottles.  Between  these,  on  a  deal  table, 
lay  a  map  outspread,  and  over  it  a  man  was  bending, 
who  loofd  up  sharply  at  our  entrance. 

He  was  thin,  with  a  blue  nose,  and  wore  a  green 
uniform  like  the  rest :  only  his  carriage  proved  him  a 
man  of  authority. 

This  Captain  Stubbs  listen'd,  you  may  be  sure,  with 
a  brightening  eye  to  the  sergeant's  story ;  and  at  the 
close  fix'd  an  inquisitive  gaze  on  the  pair  of  us,  turning 
the  King's  letter  over  and  over  in  his  hands. 

"  How  came  this  in  your  possession  ?  "  he  ask'd  at 
length. 

"  That,"  said  I,  "  I  must  decline  to  tell.'' 

He  hesitated  a  moment ;  then,  re-seating  himself, 
broke  the  seal,  spread  the  letter  upon  the  map,  and  read 
it  slowly  through.  For  the  first  time  I  began  heartily 
to  hope  that  the  paper  contain'd  nothing  of   moment. 


120  THE   SPLENDID    SPUR. 

But  the  man's  face  was  no  index  of  this.  He  read  il 
through  twice,  folded  it  away  in  his  breast,  and  tum'd 
to  the  sergeant — 

"  To-morrow  at  six  in  the  morning  we  continue  our 
march.  Meanwhile  keep  these  fellows  secure.  I  look 
to  you  for  this.'' 

The  sergeant  saluted  and  we  were  led  out.  That 
night  we  pass'd  in  hand-cuffs,  huddled  with  fifty  soldiers 
in  a  hay-loft  of  the  inn  and  hearkening  to  their  curious 
talk,  that  was  half  composed  of  Holy  Writ  and  half  of 
gibes  at  our  expense.  They  were  beaten  men  and,  like 
all  such,  found  comfort  in  deriding  the  greater  misfor- 
tunes of  others. 

Before  daylight  the  bugles  began  to  sound,  and  we 
were  led  down  to  the  green  before  the  tavern  door, 
where  already  were  close  upon  five  hundred  gathered, 
that  had  been  billeted  about  the  village  and  were  now 
forming  in  order  of  march — a  soil'd,  batter'd  crew,  with 
torn  ensijrns  and  little  heart  in  their  movements.  The 
sky  began  a  cold  drizzle  as  we  set  out,  and  through  this 
saddening  weather  we  trudged  all  day,  Delia  and  I 
being  kept  well  apart,  she  with  the  vanguard  and  I  in 
the  rear,  seeing  only  the  winding  column,  the  dejected 
heads  bobbing  in  front  as  they  bent  to  the  slanting  rain, 
the  cottagers  that  came  out  to  stare  as  we  pass'd;  and 


I    LOSE    THE    king's   LETTEE.  121 

hearing  but  the  hoarse  words  of  command,  the  low 
mutterings  of  the  men,  and  always  the  monotonous 
tramp — tramp  through  the  slush  and  mire  of  the  roads. 

"lis  like  a  bad  dream  to  me,  and  I  will  not  dwell  on 
it.  That  night  we  passM  at  Chippenham — a  small 
market  town — and  on  the  morrow  went  tramping 
again  through  worse  weather,  but  always  amid  the  same 
sights  and  sounds.  There  were  moments  when  I 
thought  to  go  maa,  vvrenching  at  my  cords  till  my 
wrists  bled,  yet  with  no  hope  to  escape.  But  in  time, 
by  good  luck,  my  wits  grew  deaden'd  to  it  all,  and  I 
marched  on  with  the  rest  to  a  kind  of  lugubrious  sing- 
song that  my  brain  supplied.  For  hours  I  went  thus, 
counting  my  steps,  missing  my  reckoning,  and  beginning 
again. 

Daylight  was  failing  when  the  towers  of  Bristol 
grew  clear  out  of  the  leaden  mist  in  front;  and  by 
five  o'clock  we  halted  outside  the  walls  and  beside 
the  ditch  of  the  castle,  waiting  for  the  draw-bridge  to 
be  let  down.  Already  a  great  crowd  had  gathered  about 
us,  of  those  who  had  come  out  to  learn  news  of  the 
defeat,  which,  the  day  before,  some  fugitives  had 
carried  to  Bristol.  To  their  questions,  as  to  all  else,  I 
listen'd  like  a  man  in  a  trance :  and  recall  this  only — 
that  first  I  was  shivering  out  in  the  rain  and  soon  after 


122  THE    8FLBNDID    BVXTK. 

was  standing  beside  Delia,  under  guard  of  a  dozen 
Boldiers,  and  shaking  with  cold,  beneath  a  gateway 
that  led  between  the  two  wards  of  the  castle.  And 
there,  for  an  hour  at  least,  we  kickM  our  heels,  until 
from  the  inner  ward  Captain  Stubbs  came  striding  and 
commanded  ue  to  follow. 

Across  the  court  we  went  in  the  rain,  through  a 
vaulted  passage,  and  passing  a  screen  of  carved  oak 
found  ourselves  suddenly  in  a  ^reat  hall,  near  forty 
yards  long  (as  I  reckon  it),  and  raftered  with  oak.  At 
the  far  end,  around  a  great  marble  table,  were  some  ten 
or  more  gentlemen  seated,  who  all  with  one  accord 
turn'd  their  eyes  upon  us,  as  the  captain  brought  us 
forward. 

The  table  before  them  was  litter'd  with  maps,  war- 
rants, and  papers ;  and  some  of  the  gentlemen  had  peni 
in  their  hands.  But  the  one  on  whom  my  eyes  fastened 
was  a  tall,  fair  soldier  that  sat  in  the  centre,  and  held 
his  Majesty's  letter,  open,  in  his  hand :  who  rose  and 
bow'd  to  me  as  I  came  near. 

"  Sir,''  he  said,  "  the  fortune  of  war  having  given 
you  into  our  hands,  you  will  not  refuse,  I  hope,  to 
answer  our  questions." 

"  Sir,  I  have  nought  to  tell,"  answer'd  I,  bowing  in 
return. 


I    LOSE    THE    king's    LETTEE.  123 

With  a  delicate  white  hand  he  wav'd  my  words 
aside.  He  had  a  handsome,  irresolute  mouth,  and  was, 
I  could  tell,  of  very  different  degree  from  the  merchants 
and  lawyers  beside  him. 

"  You  act  under  orders  from  the — the " 

"  Anti-Christ/'  put  in  a  snappish  little  fellow  on  his 
right. 

"  I  do  nothing  of  the  sort/'  said  I. 

"  "Well,  then,  sir,  from  King  Charles." 

'*  I  do  not.'' 

"  Tush  ! "  exclaim'd  the  snappish  man,  and  then 
straightening  himself  up — "  That  boy  with  you — that 
fellow  disguis'd  as  a  countryman — look  at  his  boots  !^ 
he's  a  Papist  spy  ! " 

"  There,  sir,  you  are  wrong  !  " 

"  I  saw  him — I'll  be  sworn  to  his  face — I  saw  him, 
a  year  back,  at  Douai,  helping  at  the  mass  I  I  never 
forget  faces." 

"  Why,  what  nonsense  I "  cried  I,  and  burst  out 
laughing. 

"  Don't  mock  at  me,  sir  I "  he  thunder'd,  bringing 
down  his  fist  on  the  table.  "  I  tell  you  the  boy  is  a 
Papist ! "  He  pointed  furiously  at  Delia,  who,  now 
laughing  also,  answer'd  him  very  demurelv— 

**  Indeed,  sir " 


124  THE    SPLENDID   SPITR. 

"  I  saw  you,  I  say." 

"  You  are  bold  to  make  so  certain  of  a  Papist 

"  I  saw  you  !  " 

"  That  cannot  even  tell  maid  from  man  I  *' 
''What  is  meant  by  that?"  asks  the  tall  soldier, 
opening  his  eyes. 

**  Why,  simply  this,  sir  :  I  am  no  boy  at  all,  but  a 

girll- 

There  was  a  minute,  during  which  the  little  man 
went  purple  in  the  face,  and  the  rest  star'd  at  Delia  in 
blank  astonishment. 

"  Oh,  Jack,"  she  whispered  in  my  ear,  "  I  am  »o 
very,  very  sorry  :  but  I  cannot  wear  these  hateful  clothes 
much  longer." 

She  facM  the  company  with  a  rosy  blush. 

"  What  say  you  to  this  ?  "  asfd  Colonel  Essex— for 
'twas  he — turning  round  on  the  little  man. 

"Say?  What  do  I  say?  That  the  fellow  ii  a 
Papiit,  too.  I  knew  it  from  the  first,  and  this  proTM 
itl" 


126 


CHAPTER    IX. 

I    BREAK    OUT    OF    PRISON. 

You  are  now  to  be  ask'd  to  pass  over  the  next  four 
weeks  in  as  many  minutes  :  as  would  I  had  done  at  the 
time !  For  I  spent  them  in  a  bitter  cold  cell  in  the 
main  tower  of  Bristol  keep,  with  a  chair  and  a  pallet 
of  straw  for  all  my  furniture,  and  nothing  to  stay  my 
East  but  the  bread  and  water  that  the  jailor — a  sour 
man,  if  ever  there  were  one — brought  me  twice  a  day. 

This  keep  lies  in  the  north-west  comer  of  the  outer 
ward  of  the  castle — a  mig-hty  tall  pile  and  strongly 
built,  the  walls  (as  the  jailor  told  me)  being  a  full 
twenty-five  feet  thick  near  the  foundations,  tho'  by 
time  you  ascended  to  the  towers  this  thickness  had 
dwindled  to  six  feet  and  no  more.  In  shape  'twas  a 
quadrilateral,  a  little  shorter  from  north  to  south  than 
from  east  to  west  (in  which  latter  direction  it  measurM 
sixty  feet,  about),  and  had  four  towers  standing  at  the 
four  corners,  whereof  mine  was  five  fathoms  higher  than 
the  rest. 

Guess,  then,  how  little  I  thought  of  escape,  having 
but  one  window,  a  hundred  feet  (I  do  believe)  above  the 


126  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

^ound,  and  that  so  narrow  that,  even  without  the  iron 
bar  across  it,  'twould  barely  let  my  shoulders  pass. 
What  concern 'd  me  more  was  the  cold  that  gnaw'd  me 
continually  these  winter  nights,  as  I  lay  thinking  of 
Delia  (whom  I  had  not  seen  since  our  examination),  or 
gazing  out  on  the  patch  of  frosty  heaven  that  was  all 
my  view.  'Tvvas  thus  I  had  heard  Bristol  bells  ringing 
for  Christmas  in  the  town  below. 

Colonel  Essex  had  been  thrice  to  visit  me,  and 
always  ofTer'd  many  excuses  for  my  treatment ;  but 
when  he  came  to  question  me,  why  of  course  I  had 
nothing  to  tell,  so  that  each  visit  but  served  to  vex  him 
more.  Clearly  I  was  susjiected  to  know  a  great  deal 
beyond  what  appear'd  in  the  letter :  and  no  doubt  poor 
Anthony  Killigrew  had  received  some  verbal  message 
from  His  Majesty  which  he  lived  not  long  enough  to 
transuiit  to  me.  As  'twas,  I  kept  silence;  and  the 
Colonel  in  return  would  tell  me  nothing  of  what  had 
befallen   Dt'lia. 

One  fine,  frosty  morning,  then,  when  I  had  lain  in 
this  distress  just  four  weeks,  the  door  of  my  cell 
open'tl,  and  there  appear'd  a  young  woman,  not  un- 
comely, bringing  in  my  bread  and  water.  She  was  the 
jailor's  (laughter,  and  wore  a  heavy  bunch  of  keys  at 
her  girdle. 


I    BREAK    OUT    OF   PRISON.  127 

"  Oh,  good  morning ! "  said  I :  for  tiU  now  her 
father  only  had  visited  me,  and  this  was  a  welcome 
change. 

Instead  of  answering  cheerfully  (as  I  looked  for), 
she  gave  a  little  nod  of  the  head,  rather  sorrowful,  and 
answered — 

"  Father's  abed  with  the  ague." 

"  Now  you  cannot  expect  me  to  be  sorry." 

"  Nay,''  she  said ;  and  I  caught  her  looking  at  me 
with  something  like  compassion  in  her  blue  eyes,  which 
moVd  me  to  cry  out  suddenly — 

"  I  think  you  are  woman  enough  to  like  a  pair  of 
lovers." 

"  Oh,  aye :  but  where's  t'other  half  of  the  pair  ? " 

"  You're  right.  The  young  gentlewoman  that  was 
brought  hither  with  me — I  know  not  if  she  loves  me : 
but  this  I  do  know — I  would  give  my  hand  to  learn 
her  whereabouts,  and  how  she  fares." 

"  Better  eat  thy  loaf,"  put  in  the  girl  very  suddenly, 
setting  down  the  plate  and  pitcher. 

'Twas  odd,  but  I  seem'd  to  hear  a  sob  in  her  voice. 
However,  her  back  was  towards  me  as  I  glanc'd  up. 
And  next  moment  she  was  gone,  locking  the  iron  door 
behind  her. 

I  turn'd  from  my  breakfast  with  a  sigh,  having  for 


128  THE    SPLENDID    8PUB, 

the  moment  tasted  the  hope  to  hoar  something  of  Delia 
But   in  a  while,  feeling  hungry,  I  piek'd  up  the  loaf 
beside  me,  and  broke  it  in  two. 

To  my  amaze,  out  dropp'd  something  that  jingled 
on  the  stone  floor. 

*Twas  a  small  file :  and  examining  the  loaf  again,  I 
found  a  clasp-knife  also,  and  a  strip  of  paper,  neatly 
folded,  hidden  in  the  bread. 

"  Deare  Jack, 

"  Ool°'  Essex,  finding  no  good  oome  of  hia  interroga- 
tories, hath  set  me  at  large ;  tho'  I  continue  under  his  eye,  to 
wit,  with  a  dowager  of  his  acquaintance,  a  Mistress  Finch.  Wee 
dwell  in  a  private  house  midway  down  St.  Thomas  his  street, 
in  Redcllff:  and  she  hath  put  a  dismal  dress  upon  me  (Jack, 
'tis  hideous),  but  otherwise  uses  me  not  ill.  But  take  care  of 
thyself,  my  deare  friend :  for  tho'  the  Ool°'  be  a  gentilman,  he 
is  prest  by  them  about  him,  and  at  our  last  interview  I  noted 
B  mischief  in  his  eye.  Canst  use  this  file  P — (but  take  care  :  all 
the  gates  I  saw  guarded  with  troopers  to-day.)  This  by  one 
who  hath  been  my  friend :  for  whose  sake  tear  the  paper  up. 
And  beleeve  your  cordial,  loving  comrade  "  D.  K." 

After  reading  this  a  dozen  times,  till  I  had  it  by 
heart,  I  tore  the  letter  into  small  pieces  and  hid  them 
in  my  pocket.  This  done,  I  felt  lighter-hearted  than 
for  many  a  day,  and  (rather  for  employment  than  with 


I    BBBAK    OUT   OF    PRISON.  129 

any  further  view)  began  lazily  to  rub  away  at  my  win- 
dow bar.  The  file  worked  well.  By  noon  the  bar  was 
half    sever'd,    and    I    broke   off    to   whistle    a    tune. 

'Twas— 

"Vivre  en  toat  cas, 

C'est  le  grand  sonlas        ■" 

and  I  broke  off  to  hear  the  key  turning  in  my  lock. 

The  jailor's  daughter  entered  with  my  second  meal. 
Her  eyes  were  red  with  weeping. 

Said  I,  *'  Does  your  father  beat  you  ?  " 

"  He  hasj  before  now,"  she  replied :  "  but  not  to-day." 

**  Then  why  do  you  weep  ?  " 

"  Not  for  that.'' 

"  For  what  then  ?  " 

"  For  you — oh,  dear,  dear  !  How  shall  I  tell  it  ? 
They  are  going  to — to — "  She  sat  down  on  the  chair, 
and  sobbed  in  her  apron. 

"  What  is't  they  are  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  To — to— h-hang  you.'' 

"The  devil!     When?" 

"  Tut -tut-to-morrow  mo-horning !  ** 

I  went  suddenly  very  cold  all  over.  There  was 
silence  for  a  moment,  and  then  I  heard  the  noise  of 
some  one  dropping  a  plank  in  the  courtyard  below. 

"What's  that?" 


130                                  THE    SPLENDID   SPO*. 
"  llie  gUg-rrug " 

"Gallows?" 

She  nodded. 

''  You  are  but  a  weak  girl/*  said  I,  meditating. 

"  Aye  :  but  there's  a  dozen  troopers  on  the  landing 
below.'' 

"  Then,  my  dear,  you  must  lock  me  up/'  I  decided 
gloomily,  and  fell  to  whistling — 

"Vivre  en  tout  caa, 
C'est  le  graud  soulas * 

A  workman's  hammer  in  the  court  below  chim'd  in, 
beating  out  the  tune,  and  driving  the  moral  home.  I 
heard  a  low  sob  behind  me.  The  jailor's  daughter  was 
going. 

"  Lend  me  your  bodkin,  my  dear,  for  a  memento." 

She  pull'd  it  out  and  gave  it  to  me. 

"  Thank  you,  and  now  good-bye  !  Stop  :  here's  a 
kiss  to  take  to  my  dear  mistress.  They  shan't  hang 
me,  my  dear." 

The  girl  went  out,  sobbing,  and  lock'd  the  door  after 
her. 

I  sat  down  for  a  while,  feeling  doleful.  For  I 
found  myself  extremely  young  to  be  hang'd.  But  soon 
the  whang — whang!  of   the  hammer   below   rous'd  ma 


I    BREAK    OUT    OF    PRISON.  131 

"  Come,"  I  thought,  "  I'll  see  what  that  rascal  is  doing, 
at  any  rate,''  and  pulling  the  file  from  my  pocket, 
began  to  attack  the  window-bar  with  a  will.  I  had  no 
need  for  silence,  at  this  great  height  above  the  ground  : 
and  besides,  the  hammering  continued  lustily. 

Daylight  was  closing  as  I  finished  my  task  and, 
pulling  the  two  pieces  of  the  bar  aside,  thrust  my  head 
out  at  the  window. 

Directly  under  me,  and  about  twenty  feet  from  the 
ground,  I  saw  a  beam  projecting,  about  six  feet  long, 
over  a  sort  of  doorway  in  the  wall.  Under  this  beam, 
on  a  ladder,  was  a  carpenter-fellow  at  work,  fortifying 
it  vnth  two  supporting  timbers  that  rested  on  the  sill  of 
the  doorway.  He  was  merry  enough  over  the  job,  and 
paused  every  now  and  again  to  fling  a  remark  to  a  little 
group  of  soldiers  that  stood  idling  below,  where  the 
fellow's  work-bag  and  a  great  coil  of  rope  rested  by  the 
ladder's  foot. 

"  Reckon,  Sammy,"  said  one,  pulling  a  long  tobacco 
pipe  from  his  mouth  and  spitting,  "  'tis  a  long  while 
since  thy  last  job  o'  the  sort." 

*'  Aye,   lad  :  terrible  disrepair  this  place  has  falFn 
into.     But  send  us  a  cheerful  heart,  say  I !     Instead  o' 
the  viper  an'  owl,   shall  henceforward  be  hangings  of 
men  an'  all  manner  o'  diversion." 
92 


132  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

I  kej)!  my  head  out  of  sight  and  listen'd. 

"  What  time  doth  'a  swing  ?  "  ask'd  another  of  the 
soldiers. 

"  I  heard  the  Colonel  give  orders  for  nine  o'clock 
to-morrow/'  answerM  the  first  soldier,  spitting  again. 

The  clock  over  the  barbican  struck  four :  and  in  a 
minute  was  being  answer'd  from  tower  after  tower, 
down  in  the  city. 

"  Four  o'clock ! "  cried  the  man  on  the  ladder : 
"  time  to  stop  work,  and  here  goes  for  the  last  nail ! '' 
He  droA  e  it  in  and  prepared  to  descend. 

"  Hi !  "  shouted  a  soldier,  "  you've  forgot  the  rope." 

"  That'll  wait  till  to-morrow.  There's  a  staple  to 
drive  in,  too.     I  tell  you  I'm  dry,  and  want  my  beer." 

He  whipt  his  apron  round  his  waist,  and  gathering 
ap  his  nails,  went  down  the  ladder.  At  the  foot  he 
pick'd  up  his  bag,  shoulder'd  the  ladder,  and  loung'd 
away,  leaving  the  coil  of  rope  lying  there.  Presently 
the  soldiers  saunter'd  off  also,  and  the  court  was  empty. 

Now  up  to  this  moment  I  had  but  one  idea  of 
avoiding  my  fate,  and  that  was  to  kill  myself.  'Twas 
to  this  end  I  had  borrowed  the  bodkin  of  the  maid. 
Afterwards  I  ha<]  a  notion  of  flinging  myself  from  the 
window  as  they  came  for  me.  But  now,  as  I  look'd 
down   on    that   coil   of   rope   lying   directly   below,   a 


I   BBEAK    OUT   OP    PRISON.  138 

prettier  scheme  struck  me.  I  sat  down  on  the  floor  of 
my  cell  and  pull'd  off  my  boots  and  stockings. 

'Twas  such  a  pretty  plan  that  I  got  into  a  fever  of 
impatience.  Drawing  off  a  stocking  and  picking  out 
the  end  of  the  yam,  I  began  to  unravel  the  knitting  for 
dear  life,  until  the  whole  lay,  a  heap  of  thread,  on  the 
floor.  I  then  served  the  other  in  the  same  way  :  and  at 
the  end  had  two  lines,  each  pretty  near  four  hundred 
yards  in  length :  which  now  I  divided  into  eight 
lines  of  about  a  hundred  yards  each. 

With  these  I  set  to  work,  and  by  the  end  of  twenty 
minutes  had  plaited  a  rope — if  rope,  indeed,  it  could  be 
called — weak  to  be  sure,  but  long  enough  to  reach  the 
ground  with  plenty  to  spare.  Then,  having  bent  my 
bodkin  to  the  form  of  a  hook,  I  tied  it  to  the  end  of  my 
cord,  weighted  it  with  a  crown  from  my  pocket,  and 
clambered  up  to  the  window.  I  was  going  to  angle  for 
the  hangman's  rope. 

'Twas  near  dark  by  this;  but  I  could  just  dis- 
tinguish it  on  the  paving-stones  below,  and  looking 
about  the  court,  saw  that  no  one  was  astir.  I  wriggled 
first  my  head,  then  a  shoulder,  through  the  opening, 
and  let  the  line  run  gently  through  my  hand.  There 
was  still  many  yards  left,  that  could  be  paid  out,  when 
1  heard  my  coin  tinkle  softly  on  the  pavement. 


134  THE    SPLENDID    BTXTSL 

Tlien  beg-an  my  difficulty.  A  dozen  times  I  pullM 
my  hook  across  the  coil  before  it  hitch'd ;  and  then  a 
full  three  score  of  times  the  rope  slipped  away  before  I 
had  raised  it  a  dozen  yards.  My  elbow  was  raw,  almost, 
with  leaning  on  the  sill,  and  I  began  to  lose  heart  and 
head,  when,  to  my  delight,  the  bodkin  caught  and  held. 
It  had  fastened  on  a  kink  in  the  rope,  not  far  from  the 
end.  I  began  to  pull  up,  hand  over  hand,  trembling  all 
the  while  like  a  leaf. 

For  I  had  two  very  reasonable  fears.  First,  the 
rope  might  slip  away  and  tumble  before  it  reached  my 
grasp.  Secondly,  it  might,  after  all,  prove  a  deal  too 
short.  It  had  look'd  to  me  a  new  rope  of  many  fathoms, 
not  yet  cut  for  to-morrow's  purpose ;  but  eyesight 
mio-ht  well  deceive  at  that  distance,  and  surely  enough 
I  saw  that  the  whole  was  dangling  off  the  ground  long 
before  it  came  to  my  hand. 

But  at  last  I  caught  it,  and  slipping  back  into  the 
room,  pull'd  it  after  me,  yard  upon  yard.  My  heart 
went  loud  and  fast.  There  was  nothing  to  fasten  it 
to  but  an  iron  staple  in  the  door,  that  meant  losing 
the  width  of  my  cell,  some  six  feet.  This,  however, 
must  be  risk'd,  and  I  made  the  end  fast,  lower'd  the  other 
out  of  window  again,  and  climbing  to  a  sitting  posture 
on  the  window-sill,  thrust  out  my  legs  over  the  gulf. 


I   BREAK   OUT   OP    k>lLISON.  135 

Thankful  was  I  that  darkness  had  fallen  before  this, 
and  hidden  the  giddy  depths  below  me.  I  gripp'd  the 
rope  and  push'd  myself  inch  by  inch  through  the  win- 
dow, and  out  over  the  ledge.  For  a  moment  I  dangled, 
without  courage  to  move  a  hand.  Then,  wreathing  my 
legs  round  the  rope,  I  loosed  my  left  hand,  and  caught 
with  it  again  some  six  inches  lower.  And  so,  down  I 
went. 

Minute  foUow'd  minute,  and  left  me  still  descend- 
ing, six  inches  at  a  time,  and  looking  neither  above  nor 
below,  but  always  at  the  gray  wall  that  seem'd  sliding 
up  in  front  of  me.  The  first  dizziness  was  over,  but  a 
horrible  aching  of  the  arms  had  taken  the  place  of  it. 
'Twas  growing  intolerable,  when  suddenly  my  legs,  that 
sought  to  close  round  the  rope,  found  space  only.  I 
had  come  to  the  end. 

I  look'd  down.  A  yard  below  my  feet  the  beam  of 
the  gallows  gleam'd  palely  out  of  the  darkness.  Here 
was  my  chance.  I  let  my  hands  slip  down  the  last 
foot  or  so  of  rope,  hung  for  a  moment,  then  dropped  for 
the  beam. 

My  feet  miss'd  it,  as  I  intended  they  should ;  but  I 
flung  both  arms  out  and  caught  it,  bringing  myself  up 
with  a  jerk.  While  yet  I  hung  clawing,  I  heard  a  foot- 
step coming  through  the  gateway  between  the  two  wards. 


136  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

Here  was  a  fix.  With  all  speed  and  silence  I  drew 
myself  up  to  the  heam,  found  a  hold  with  one  kne« 
upon  it,  got  astride,  and  lay  down  at  lenj^th,  tlatten-ng 
my  body  down  against  the  timber.  Yet  all  the  while  1 
felt  sure  I  must  have  been  heard. 

The  footsteps  drew  nearer,  and  pass'd  almost  under 
the  gallows.  'Twas  an  officer,  for,  as  he  pass'd,  he 
called  out — 

"  Sergeant  Downs  I  Sergeant  Downs ! " 

A-  voice  from  the  guard-room  in  the  barbican 
answered  him  through  the  darkness. 

"  Why  is  not  the  watch  set  ?  " 

"  In  a  minute,  sir :  it  wants  a  minute  to  six." 

"I    thought    the    Colonel    ordered    it    at    half-paat 

five?" 

In  the  silence  that  follow'd,  the  barbican  clock 
began  to  strike,  and  half  a  dozen  troopers  tumbled  out 
from  the  guard-room,  some  laughing,  some  grumbling 
at  the  coldness  of  the  night.  The  officer  returned  to 
the  inner  ward  as  they  dispers'd  to  their  posts  :  and 
soon  there  was  silence  again,  save  for  the  tramp — tramp  of 
a  sentry  crossing  and  recrossing  the  pavement  below  me. 

All  this  while  I  lay  flattened  along  the  beam,  scarce 
daring  to  breathe.  But  at  length,  when  the  man  had 
passM   below   for   the    sixth    time,    I    found   heart   to 


I   BEBAK   OUT   OF   PRISON.  1JJ7 

wriggle  myself  towards  the  doorway  over  which  the 
gallows  protruded.  By  slow  degrees,  and  pausing 
whenever  the  fellow  drew  near,  I  crept  close  up  to  the 
wall :  then,  waiting  the  proper  moment,  cast  my  legs 
over,  dangled  for  a  second  or  two  swinging  myself 
towards  the  sill,  flung  myself  off,  and,  touching  the 
ledge  with  one  toe,  pitched  forward  into  the  room. 

The  effect  of  this  was  to  give  me  a  sound  crack  as 
I  struck  the  flooring,  which  lay  about  a  foot  below  the 
level  of  the  sill.  I  pick'd  myself  up  and  listened. 
Outside,  the  regular  tramp  of  the  sentry  prov'd  he  had 
not  heard  me ;  and  I  drew  a  long  breath,  for  I  knew 
that  without  a  lantern  he  would  never  spy,  in  the 
darkness,  the  tell-tale  rope  dangling  from  the  tower. 

In  the  room  where  I  stood  all  was  right.  But  the 
flooring  was  uneven  to  the  foot,  and  scatter'd  with 
small  pieces  of  masonry.  'Twas  one  of  the  many 
chambers  in  the  castle  that  had  dropp'd  into  di«- 
repair.  Groping  my  way  with  both  hands,  and 
barking  my  shins  on  the  loose  stones,  I  found 
a  low  vaulted  passage  that  led  me  into  a  second 
chamber,  empty  as  the  first.  To  my  delight,  the 
door  of  this  was  ajar,  with  a  glimmer  of  light 
slanting  through  the  crack.  I  made  straight  towards 
it,  and  pull'd  the  door  softly.     It  open'd,  and  show'd  a 


138  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

lantern  dimly  burning,  and  the  staircase  of  the  keep 
winding  past  me,  up  into  darkness. 

My  chance  was,  of  course,  to  descend :  which  I  did 
on  tip-toe,  hearing  no  sound.  The  stairs  twisted  down 
and  down,  and  ended  by  a  stout  door  with  another  lamp 
shining  above  it.  After  listening  a  moment  I  decided 
to  be  bold,  and  lifted  the  latch.    A  faint  cry  saluted  me. 

I  stood  face  to  face  with  the  jailor^s  daughter. 

The  room  was  a  small  one,  well-lit,  and  lin'd  about 
the  walls  with  cups  and  bottles.  'Twas,  as  I  guessed,  a 
tap-room  for  the  soldiers  :  and  the  girl  had  been  scouring 
one  of  the  pewter  mugs  when  my  entrance  startled  her. 
She  stood  up,  white  as  if  painted,  and  gasp'd — 

"  Quick — quick  1  Down  here  behind  the  counter  for 
your  life  I  *' 

There  was  scarce  time  to  drop  on  my  knees  before  a 
couple  of  troopers  loung'd  in,  demanding  muU'd  beer. 
The  girl  bustled  about  to  serve  them,  while  the  pair 
leant  their  elbows  on  the  counter,  and  in  this  easy 
attitude  began  to  chat. 

**  A  shrewd  night !  " 

"  Aye,  a  very  freezing  frost !  Lucky  that  soldiering 
is  not  all  sentry- work,  or  I  for  one  'ud  ensue  my  natural 
trade  o'  plumbing.  But  let's  be  cheerful :  for  the  voict 
o'  the  turtle  is  heard  i'  the  land." 


I   BREAK    OUT    OF    PRISON.  139 

"Hey?" 

The  man  took  a  pull  at  his  hot  beer  before  ex- 
plaining. 

"  The  turtle  signifieth  the  Earl  o'  Stamford,  that  is 
to-night  visiting  Colonel  Essex  in  secret :  an'  this  is 
the  import — war,  bloody  war.     Mark  me." 

"  Stirring,  striving  times  !  " 

"  You  may  say  so !  'A  hath  fifteen  thousand  men, 
the  Earl,  no  farther  off  than  Taunton — why,  my  dear, 
how  pale  you  look,  to  be  sure  1 " 

"  'Tis  my  head  that  aches,"  answered  the  girl. 

The  men  finish'd  their  drink,  and  saunter'd  out.  I 
crept  from  under  the  counter,  and  lookM  at  her. 

"  Father  '11  kill  me  for  this !  " 

"  Then  you  shall  say — Is  it  forward  or  back  I  must 
go?" 

"  Neither."  She  pulFd  up  a  trap  close  beside  her 
feet,  and  pointed  out  a  ladder  leading  down  to  the 
darkness,  "The  courts  are  full  of  troopers,"  she 
added. 

''The  cellar?" 

She  nodded. 

"  Quick  !  There's  a  door  at  the  far  end.  It  leads 
to  the  crypt  of  St.  John's  Chapel.  You'll  find  the  key 
beside  it,  and  a  lantern.     Here  is  flint  and  steel."     She 


140  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

reach 'd  them  down  from  a  shelf  beside  her.  "  Crouch 
down,  or  they'll  spy  you  through  the  window.  From 
the  crypt  a  passage  takes  you  to  the  governor's  house. 
How  to  escape  then,  God  knows !  'Tis  the  best  I  can 
think  on." 

I  thank'd  her,  and  began  to  step  down  the  ladder. 
She  stood  for  a  moment  to  watch,  leaving  the  trap  open 
for  better  light.  Between  the  avenue  of  casks  and  bins 
I  stumbled  towards  the  door  and  lantern  that  were  just 
to  be  discemM  at  the  far  end  of  the  cellar.  As  I  struck 
steel  on  flint,  I  heard  the  trap  close  :  and  since  then 
have  never  set  eyes  on  that  kind-hearted  girl 

The  lantern  lit,  I  took  the  key  and  fitted  it  to  the 
lock.  It  turned  noisily,  and  a  cold  whifE  of  air  struck 
my  face.  Gazing  round  this  new  chamber,  I  saw  two 
lines  of  squat  pillars,  supporting  a  low  archM  roof. 
'Twas  the  crypt  beneath  the  chapel,  and  smelt  vilely. 
A  green  moisture  trickled  down  the  pillars,  and  dripp'd 
on  the  tombs  beneath  them. 

At  the  end  of  this  dreary  place  was  a  broken  door, 
consisting  only  of  a  plank  or  two,  that  I  easily  puli'd 
away :  and  beyond,  a  narrow  passage,  over  which  I 
heard  the  tread  of  troopers  plainly,  as  they  pacM  to 
and  fro ;  also  the  mufflcKl  note  of  the  clock,  sounding 
seven. 


I   BEEIK    OUT   OF   PRISON.  141 

The  passage  went  fairly  straight,  but  was  block'd 
here  and  there  with  fallen  stones,  over  which  I  scrambled 
as  best  I  could.  And  then,  suddenly  I  was  near  pitch- 
ing down  a  short  flight  of  steps.  I  held  the  lantern 
aloft  and  looked. 

At  the  steps'  foot  widen'd  out  a  low  room,  whereof 
the  ceiling,  like  that  of  the  crypt,  rested  on  pillars. 
Between  these,  every  inch  of  space  was  pil'd  with  barrels, 
chests,  and  great  pyramids  of  round-shot.  In  each 
comer  lay  a  heap  of  rusty  pikes.  Of  all  this  the  sig- 
nification was  clear.  I  stood  in  the  munition  room  of 
the  Castle. 

But  what  chiefly  took  my  notice  was  a  great  door, 
studded  with  iron  nails,  that  barred  all  exit  from  the 
place.  Over  the  barrels  I  crept  towards  it,  keeping  the 
lantern  high,  in  dread  of  firing  any  loose  powder.  'Twas 
fast  lockt. 

I  think  that,  for  a  moment  or  two,  I  covdd  have 
wept.  But  in  a  while  the  thought  struck  me  that  with 
the  knife  in  my  pocket  'twas  possible  to  cut  away  the 
wood  around  the  lock.  "  Courage  !  "  said  I :  and  pull- 
ing it  forth,  knelt  down  to  work. 

Luck  in  life  has  alway  used  me  better  than  my  de- 
serts. At  an  hour's  end  there  I  was,  hacking  away 
steadily,  yet  had  made  but  little  progress.     And  then, 


142  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

pressinf^  the   knife   deep,  I  broke  the  blade  oil  short. 
The  door  upon  the  far  side  was  cas'd  with  iron. 

Tramp — tramp  ! 

'Twas  the  sound  of  a  man's  footfall,  and  to  the  ear 
appeared  to  be  descending  a  flight  of  steps  on  the  other 
side  of  the  door.  I  bent  my  ear  to  the  key-hole  :  then 
stepped  to  a  cask  of  bullets  that  stood  handy  by.  I  took 
out  a  dozen,  felt  in  my  pocket  for  Delia's  kerchief  that 
she  had  given  me,  caught  up  a  pike  from  the  pile  stacked 
in  the  corner,  and  softly  blowing  out  my  light,  stood 
back  to  be  concealed  by  the  door,  when  it  open'd. 

The  footsteps  still  descended.  I  heard  an  aged 
voice  muttering — 

"  Shrivel  my  bones — ugh  ! — ugh  !  Wintry  work — 
wintry  work  1  Here's  an  hour  to  send  a  grand  fatherly 
man  a-groping  for  a  keg  o*  powder  I  " 

A  wheezy  cough  clos'd  the  sentence,  as  a  key  was 
with  difficulty  fitted  in  the  lock. 

"  Ugh — ugh  1  Sure,  the  lock  an'  I  be  a  pair,  for 
stiff  joints.'* 

The  door  creak'd  back  against  me,  and  a  shaft  of 
light  pierc'd  the  darkness. 

Within  the  threshold,  with  his  back  to  me,  stood  a 
gray-bearded  servant,  and  totter'd  so  that  the  lantern 
ihook  in  his  hand.     It  sham'd  me  to  lift  a  pike  againit 


1   BREAK    OUT   OP    PRISON.  148 

one  so  weak.  Instead,  I  dropp'd  it  with  a  clatter,  and 
leapt  forward.  The  old  fellow  jump'd  like  a  boy, 
turned,  and  fae'd  me  with  dropp'd  jaw,  which  gave  me 
an  opportunity  to  thrust  four  or  five  bullets,  not  over 
roughly,  into  his  mouth.  Then,  having  turn'd  him  on 
his  back,  I  strapp'd  Delia's  kerchief  tight  across  his 
mouth,  and  took  the  lantern  from  his  hand. 

Not  a  word  was  said.  Sure,  the  poor  old  man's  wits 
were  shaken,  for  he  lay  meek  as  a  mouse,  and  star'd  up  at 
me,  while  I  unstrapp'd  his  belt  and  bound  his  feet  with 
it.  His  hands  I  truss'd  up  behind  him  with  his  own 
neckcloth  ;  and  catching  up  the  lantern,  left  him  there. 
I  lockM  the  door  after  me,  and  slipt  the  key  into  my 
pocket  as  I  sprang  up  the  stairs  beyond. 

But  here  a  light  was  shining,  so  once  more  I  ex- 
tinguished my  lantern.  The  steps  ended  in  a  long  passage, 
with  a  handsome  lamp  hanging  at  the  uttermost  end, 
and  beneath  this  lamp  I  stepped  into  a  place  that  filled 
me  with  astonishment. 

'Twas,  I  could  not  doubt,  the  entrance  hall  of  the 
governor's  house.  An  oak  door,  very  massive,  fronted  me ; 
to  left  and  right  were  two  smaller  doors,  that  plainly 
led  into  apartments  of  the  house.  Also  to  my  left,  and 
nigher  than  the  door  on  that  side,  ran  up  a  broad  stair- 
case, carpeted  and  brightly  lit  all  the  way,  so  that  a  very 


144  THE    SPLENDID    8PUB. 

blaze  fell  on  me  as  I  stood.  Under  the  first  flif^ht,  close 
to  my  left  shoulder,  was  a  line  of  pegs  with  many 
cloaks  and  hats  depending  therefrom.  Underfoot,  1 
remember,  the  hall  was  richly  tiled  in  squares  of  red  and 
white  marble. 

Now  clearly,  this  was  a  certain  place  wherein  to  be 
caught.  "But,''  thought  I,  "behind  one  of  the  two 
doors,  to  left  or  to  right,  must  lie  the  governor's  room 
of  business ;  and  in  that  room — as  likely  as  not — his 
keys.''  Which  door,  then,  should  I  choose?  For  to 
stay  here  was  madness. 

While  I  stood  pondering,  the  doubt  was  answer'd 
for  me.  From  behind  the  right-hand  door  came  a  burst 
of  laughter  and  clinking  of  glasses,  on  top  of  which  a 
man's  voice — the  voice  of  Colonel  Essex — call'd  out  for 
more  wine. 

I  took  a  step  to  the  door  on  the  left,  paus'd  for  a 
second  or  two  with  my  hand  on  the  latch,  and  then 
cautiously  push'd  it  open.     The  chamber  was  empty. 

'Twas  a  long  room,  with  a  light  burning  on  a  square 
centre  table,  and  around  it  a  mass  of  books,  loose  papers 
and  documents  strewn,  seemingly  without  order.  The 
floor  too  was  litter'd  with  them.  Clearly  this  was  the 
Colonel's  oflBce. 

I  gave  a  rapid  glance  around.      The   lamp's   rays 


1   BREAK   OUT   OP   PRISON.  146 

scarce  illuinin'd  the  far  corners;  but  in  one  of  these 
stood  a  great  leathern  screen,  and  over  the  fireplace  near 
it  a  rack  was  hanging,  full  of  swords,  pistols,  and  walk- 
ing canes.  Stepping  towards  it  I  caught  sight  of 
Anthony^s  sword,  suspended  there  amongst  the  rest 
(they  had  taken  it  from  me  on  the  day  of  my  exami- 
nation); which  now  I  took  down  and  strapp'd  at  my 
side.  I  then  chose  out  a  pistol  or  two,  slipt  them  into 
my  sash,  and  advanced  to  the  centre  table. 

Under  the  lamp  light  lay  His  Majesty's  letter,  open. 

My  hand  was  stretch'd  out  to  catch  it  up,  when  I 
heard  across  the  haU  a  door  open'd,  and  the  sound  of 
men's  voices.     They  were  coming  towards  the  office. 

There  was  scarce  time  to  slip  back,  and  hide  behind 
the  screen,  before  the  door-latch  was  lifted,  and  two  men 
enter'd,  laughing  yet. 

"  Business,  my  lord — business,''  said  the  first  ('twas 
Colonel  Essex) :  "  I  have  much  to  do  to-night." 

"  Sure,"  the  other  answer'd,  "  I  thought  we  had 
settled  it.  You  are  to  lend  me  a  thousand  out  of  your 
garrison " 

"Which,  on  my  own  part,  I  would  willingly  do. 

Only  I  beg  you  to  consider,  my  lord,  that  my  position 

here  hangs  on  a  thread.     The  extreme  men  are  already 

against  me :  they  talk  of  replacing  me  by  Fiennea        " 

ft 


H6  THE    SPLENDID    SPU&. 

"  Nat  Fiennes  is  no  soldier." 

"  No  :  but  he's  a  bigot — a  stronger  recommendation. 
Should  this  plan  miscarry,  and  I  lose  a  thousand 
men " 

"Heavens  alive,  man!  It  cannot  miscarry.  Hark 
ye:  there's  Ruthen  of  Plymouth  will  take  the  south 
road  with  all  his  forces.  A  day's  march  behind  I 
shall  follow — along  roads  to  northward — parallel  for  a 
way,  but  afterwards  converging.  The  Cornishmen  are 
all  in  Bodmin.  We  shall  come  on  them  with  double 
their  number,  aye,  almost  treble.  Can  you  doubt  the 
issue  ?  " 

"  Scarcely,  with  the  Earl  of  Stamford  for  General." 

The  Earl  was  too  far  occupied  to  notice  this  compli- 
ment. 

"'Twill  be  swift  and  secret,"  he  said,  "as  Death 
himself — and  as  sure.  Let  be  the  fact  that  Hopton  is 
all  at  sixes  and  sevens  since  the  Marquis  shipp'd  for 
Wales  :  and  at  daggers  drawn  with  Moliun." 

Said  the  Colonel  slowly — "  Aye,  the  notion  is  good 
enough.  Were  I  not  in  this  corner,  I  would  not  think 
twice.  Listen  now :  only  this  morning  they  forced  me 
to  order  a  young  man's  hanging,  who  might  if  kept 
alive  be  forc'd  in  time  to  give  us  news  of  value.  I 
dar'd  not  refufle." 


I    BREAK   OUT    OP    PRISON.  147 


» 


"  He  that  you  caught  with  the  King-^s  letter  ? 

"Aye — a  trumpery  missive^  dealing  with  naught 
but  summoning  of  the  sheri&'s posse  and  the  like.  There 
is  more  behind,  could  we  but  wait  to  get  at  it." 

"  The  gallows  may  loosen  his  tongue.  And  how  of 
the  girl  that  was  taken  too  ?  " 

''  I  have  her  |in  safe  keeping.  This  very  evening 
I  shall  visit  her,  and  make  another  ti-ial  to  get  some 
speech.     Which  puts  me  in  mind " 

The  Colonel  tinkled  a  small  hand- bell  that  lay  on 
the  table. 

The  pause  that  followed  was  broken  by  the  Earl. 

"May  I  see  the  letter?'' 

The  Colonel  handed  it,  and  tinkled  the  bell  again, 
more  impatiently.  At  length  steps  were  heard  in  the 
hall,  and  a  servant  open'd  the  door. 

"  Where  is  Giles  ?  "  ask'd  the  Colonel.  "  Why  are 
you  taking  his  place  ?  " 

Giles  can^t  be  found,  your  honour." 
Hey  ? '' 

"  He's  a  queer  oldster,  your  honour,  an'  may  be 
gone  to  bed  wi'  his  aches  and  pains." 

(I  knew  pretty  well  that  Giles  had  done  no  such 
thing :  but  be  sure  I  kept  the  knowledge  safe  behind 
my  screen.) 


148  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

"  Then  go  seek  him,  and  say No,  stop  :  I  can't 

wait.  Order  the  coach  around  at  the  barbican  in  twenty 
minutes  from  now — twenty  minutes,  mind,  without  fail. 
And  say — 'twill  save  time — the  fellow's  to  drive  me  to 
Mistress  Finch's  house  in  St.  Thomas'  Street — sharp  I  '* 

As  the  man  departed  on  his  errand,  the  Earl  laid 
down  His  Majesty's  letter. 

"  Hang  the  fellow,"  he  said,  "  if  they  want  it :  the 
blame,  if  any,  will  be  theirs.  But,  in  the  name  of 
Heaven,  Colonel,  don't  fail  in  lending  me  this  thousand 
men !     'Twill  finish  the  war  out  of  hand." 

"  I'll  do  it,"  answered  the  Colonel  slowly. 

"And  I'll  remember  it,"  said  the  Earl.  "To- 
morrow, at  six  o'clock,  I  set  out." 

The  two  men  shook  hands  on  their  barg^ain  and  left 
the  room,  shutting  the  door  after  them. 

I  crept  forth  from  behind  the  screen,  my  heart 
thumping  on  my  ribs.  Thus  far  it  had  been  all  fear 
and  trembling  with  me  ;  but  now  this  was  chang'd  to 
a  kind  of  panting  joy.  'Twaa  not  that  I  had  spied 
the  prison  keys  hanging  near  the  fire-place,  nor  that  be- 
hind the  screen  lay  a  heap  of  the  Colonel's  riding-boots, 
whereof  a  pair,  ready  spurr'd,  fitted  me  choicely  well ; 
but  that  my  ears   tingled   with  news   that  tum'd   my 


I    BREAK    OUT    OP   PRISON.  149 

escape  to  a  matter  of  public  welfare :  and  also  that 
the  way  to  escape  lay  plannM  in  my  head. 

Shod  in  the  Colonel's  boots^  I  advanced  again  to  the 
table.  With  sealing-wax  and  the  Governor's  seal,  that 
lay  handy,  I  closed  up  the  King's  letter,  and  sticking  it 
in  my  breast,  caught  down  the  bunch  of  keys  and  made 
for  the  door. 

The  hall  was  void.  I  snatch'd  down  a  cloak  and 
heavy  broad-brimmM  hat  from  one  of  the  pegs,  and  don- 
ning them,  slipped  back  the  bolts  of  the  heavy  door.  It 
opened  without  noise.  Then,  with  a  last  hitch  of  the 
cloak,  to  bring  it  well  about  me,  I  stepped  forth  into  the 
night,  shutting  the  door  quietly  on  my  heels. 

My  feet  were  on  the  pavement  of  the  inner  ward. 
Above,  one  star  only  broke  the  blackness  of  the  night. 
Across  the  court  was  a  sentry  tramping.  As  I  walk'd 
boldly  up,  ne  stopped  short  by  the  gate  between  the 
wards  and  regarded  me. 

Now  was  my  danger.  I  knew  not  the  right  key  for 
the  wicket :  and  if  I  fumbled,  the  fellow  would  detect  me 
for  certain.  I  chose  one  and  drew  nearer ;  the  fellow 
looked,  saluted,  stepped  to  the  wicket,  and  opened  it  him- 
self. 

"  Good-night,  Colonel  I  " 

I   did   not   trust   myself   to    answer:    but    passed 


150  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

rapidly  through  to  the  outer  ward.  Here,  to  my  joy, 
in  the  archM  passage  of  the  barbican  gate,  was  the 
carriage  waiting,  the  porter  standing  beside  the  door ; 
and  here  also,  to  my  dismay,  was  a  torch  alight,  and 
tinder  it  half-a-dozen  soldiers  chatting.  A  whisper 
pass'd  on  my  approach — *'  The  Colonel  I  "  and  they 
hurried  into  the  guard-room. 

"  Good  evening.  Colonel  I  "  The  porter  bow'd  low, 
holding  the  door  wide. 

I  passM  him  rapidly,  climb'd  into  the  shadow  of 
the  coach,  and  drew  a  long  breath. 

Then  ensued  a  hateful  pause,  as  the  great  gates  were 
unbarrM.     I  gripped  my  knees  for  impatience. 

The  driver  spoke  a  word  to  the  porter,  who  came 
round  to  the  coach  door  again. 

"  To  Mistress  Finch's,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Ay,''  I  muttered  ;  "  and  quickly." 

The  coachman  touched  up  his  pair.  The  wheels 
mov'd ;  went  quicker.     We  were  outside  the  Castle. 

"With  what  relief  I  leant  back  as  the  Castle  gates 
clos'd  behind  us  I  And  with  what  impatience  at  our 
slow  pace  I  sat  upright  again  next  minute  I  The 
wheels  rumbled  over  the  bridge,  and  immediately 
we  were  rolling  easily  down-hill,  through  a  street  of 
some  importance  :  but  by   this  time  the  shutters  were 


I    BREAK   OUT    OP   PRISON.  151 

ap  along  the  shop-fronts  and  very  few  people  abroad. 
At  the  bottom  we  turned  sharp  to  the  left  along  a 
broader  thoroughfare  :  and  then  suddenly  drew  up. 

"  Are  we  come ?"  1  wondered.  But  no  :  'twas  the 
city  gate,  and  here  we  had  to  wait  for  three  minutes  at 
least,  till  the  sentries  recognised  the  Colonel's  coach  and 
opened  the  doors  to  us.  They  stood  on  this  side  and 
that,  presenting  arms,  as  we  rattled  through ;  and  next 
moment  I  was  crossing  a  broad  bridge,  with  the  dark 
Avon  on  either  side  of  me,  and  the  vessels  thick  thereon, 
their  lanterns  casting  long  lines  of  yellow  on  the  jetty 
water,  their  masts  and  cordage  looming  up  against  the 
dull  glare  of  the  city. 

Soon  we  were  between  lines  of  building  once  more, 
shops,  private  dwellings  and  warehouses  intermixt ;  then 
passed  a  tall  church ;  and  in  about  two  minutes  more 
drew  up  again.     I  look'd  out. 

Facing  me  was  a  narrow  gateway  leading  to  a  house 
that  stood  somewhat  back  from  the  street,  as  if  slipping 
away  from  between  the  lines  of  shops  that  wedg'd  it  in 
on  either  hand.  Over  the  grill  a  link  was  burning.  I 
stepped  from  the  coach,  open'd  the  gate,  and  crossing 
the  small  coiu^,  rang  at  the  house  bell. 

At  first  there  was  no  answer.  I  rang  again :  and 
now  had  the  satisfaction  to  hear  a  light  footfall  coming. 


152  THE    SPLENDID    SPTJU. 

A  bolt  was  puU'd  and  a  girl  apj)ear*d  holding'  a  oandle 
high  in  her  hand.  Quick  as  thought,  I  stepp'd  past 
her  into  the  passage. 

"  Delia  1  " 

'^Jack!" 

"  Hist !  Close  the  door.  Where  is  Mistresi 
Finch  ?  *' 

"  Upstairs,  expecting  Colonel  Essex.     Oh,  the  happj 

day  !     Come "  she  led  me  into  a  narrow  hack  room 

and  setting  down  the  light  regarded  me — "  Jack,  my 
eyes  are  red  for  thee  1 " 

"  I  see  they  are.     To-morrow  I  was  to  be  hanged." 

She  put  her  hands  together,  catching  her  breath : 
and  very  lovely  I  thought  her,  in  her  straight  grey  gown 
and  Puritan  cap. 

"  They  have  been  questioning  me.  Didst  get  my 
letter  ?  " 

The  answer  was  on  my  lip  when  there  came  a  sound 
that  made  us  both  start. 

'Twas  the  dull  echo  of  a  gun  firing,  up  at  the  Castle. 

"  Delia,  what  lies  at  the  back  here  ?  ** 

"  A  garden  and  a  garden  door :  after  these  a  lane 
lea  ling  to  RedclifE  Street." 

"  I  must  go,  this  moment,"  , 

"And  If" 


1   BREAK   OUT   OF   PRISON.  153 

She  did  not  wait  my  answer,  but  running  out 
into  the  passage,  she  came  swiftly  back  with  a  heavy 
key.     I  open'd  the  window. 

"  Delia !  De-lia  ! "  'Twas  a  woman's  voice  calling 
her,  at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 

"  Aye,  Mistress  Finch." 

"  Who  was  that  at  the  door  ?  " 

I  sprang  into  the  garden  and  held  forth  a  hand 
to  Delia.  "  In  one  moment,  mistress  1 "  call'd  she, 
and  in  one  moment  was  hurrying  with  me  across  the 
dark  garden  beds.  As  she  fitted  the  key  to  the  garden 
gate,  I  heard  the  voice  again. 

"  De-lia  1 " 

'Twas  drowned  in  a  wild  rat-a-tat!  on  the  street 
door,  and  the  shouts  of  many  voices.  "We  were  close 
pressed. 

"  Now,  Jack — to  the  right  for  our  lives !  Ah,  these 
clumsy  skirts  I " 

We  tum'd  into  the  lane  and  rac*d  down  it.  For  my 
part,  I  swore  to  drown  myself  in  Avon  rather  than  let 
those  troopers  retake  me.  I  heard  their  outcries  about 
the  house  behind  us,  as  we  stumbled  over  the  frozen 
rubbish-heaps  with  which  the  lane  was  bestrewn. 

"  What's  our  direction  ?  "  panted  I,  catching  Delia'a 
hand  to  help  her  along. 


154  THE   SPLENDID    SPUn. 

"  To  tlie  left  now — fur  the  river." 

We  struck  into  a  narrow  side-street ;  and  witb  that 
heard  a  watchman  bawl — 

"  Past  nine  o'  the  night,  an'  a /  " 

The  shock  of  our  collision  sent  him  to  finish  his  say 
in  the  gutter, 

"  Thieves  I "  he  yellM. 

But  already  we  were  twenty  yards  away,  and  now  in 
a  broader  street,  whereof  one  side  was  wholly  lin'd  with 
warehouses.  And  here,  to  our  dismay,  we  heard  shouts 
behind,  and  the  noise  of  feet  running. 

About  half-way  down  the  street  I  spied  a  gateway 
standing  ajar,  and  pulFd  Delia  aside,  into  a  courtyard 
litter'd  with  barrels  and  timbers,  and  across  it  to  a  black 
empty  bam  of  a  place,  where  a  flight  of  wooden  steps 
glimmered,  that  led  to  an  upper  storey.  We  climb'd 
these  stairs  at  a  run. 

"  Faugh  !     What  a  vile  smell  I  " 

The  loft  was  pilM  high  with  great  bales  of  wool,  as 
I  found  by  the  touch,  and  their  odour  enough  to  satisfy 
an  army.  Nevertheless,  I  was  groping  about  for  a 
place  to  hide,  when  Delia  touch'd  me  by  the  arm,  and 
pointed. 

Looking,  I  descried  in  the  gloom  a  tall  quadrilateral 
of  purple,  not  five  steps  away,  with  a  speck  of  light 


I   BREAK   OUT    OP   PRISON.  155 

shining  near  the  top  of  it,  and  three  dark  streaks  run- 
ning down  the  middle,  whereof  one  was  much  thicker 
than  the  rest.  'Twas  an  open  doorway ;  the  speck,  a 
star  framed  within  it;  the  broad  streak,  a  ship's  mast 
reaching  up;  and  the  lesser  ones  two  ends  of  a  rope, 
working  over  a  pulley  above  my  head,  and  used  for 
lowering  the  bales  of  wool  on  ship-board. 

Advancing,  I  stood  on  the  sill  and  look'd  down.  On 
the  black  water,  twenty  feet  below,  lay  a  three -masted 
trader,  close  against  the  warehouse.  My  toes  stuck  out 
over  her  deck,  almost. 

At  first  glance  I  could  see  no  sign  of  life  on  board  : 
but  presently  was  aware  of  a  dark  figure  leaning  over 
the  bulwarks,  near  the  bows.  He  was  quite  motionless. 
His  back  was  towards  us,  blotted  against  the  black 
shadow ;  and  the  man  engag'd  only,  it  seem'd,  in 
watching  the  bright  splash  of  light  flung  by  the  ship's 
lantern  on  the  water  beneath  him. 

I  resolv'd  to  throw  myself  on  the  mercy  of  this 
silent  figure ;  and  put  out  a  hand  to  test  the  rope.  One 
end  of  it  was  fix'd  to  a  bale  of  wool  that  lay,  as  it  had 
been  lowered,  on  the  deck.  Flinging  myself  on  the 
other,  I  found  it  sink  gently  from  the  pulley,  as  the 
weight  below  moved  slowly  upwards  :  and  sinking  with 
it,  I  held  on  till  my  feet  touched  the  deck. 


156  THE    SPLENDID    SPITR. 

Still  the  figure  in  the  bows  was  motionless. 

1  paid  out  my  end  of  the  rope  softly,  lowering  back 
the  bale  of  wool :  and,  as  soon  as  it  rested  again  on 
deck,  signalled  to  Delia  to  let  herself  down. 

She  did  so.  As  she  alighted,  and  stood  beside  me, 
our  hands  bungled.  The  rope  slipped  up  quickly,  letting 
down  the  bale  with  a  run. 

We  caught  at  the  rope,  and  stopp'd  it  just  in  tim«  : 
but  the  pulley  above  creaked  vociferously.  I  turnM  my 
head. 

The  man  in  the  bows  had  not  moT'd. 


157 


CHAPTER  X 

CAPTAIN   POTTERY   AND    CAPTAW   SKTIXB, 

"  Now  either  I  am  mad  or  dreaming,"  thought  I :  for 
that  the  fellow  had  not  heard  our  noise  was  to  me 
starkly  incredible.  I  steppM  along  the  deck  towards 
him  :  not  an  inch  did  he  budge.  I  touched  him  on  the 
shoulder. 

He  fac'd  round  with  a  quick  start. 

"  Sir/'  said  I,  quick  and  low,  before  he  could  get  a 
word  out — "  Sir,  we  are  in  your  hands.  I  will  be  plain. 
To-night  I  have  broke  out  of  Bristol  Keep,  and  the 
Colonel's  men  are  after  me.  Give  me  up  to  them,  and 
they  hang  me  to-morrow :  give  my  comrade  up,  and 
they  persecute  her  vilely.  Now,  sir,  I  know  not  which 
side  you  be,  but  there's  our  case  in  a  nutshell." 

The  man  bent  forward,  displaying  a  huge,  rounded 
face,  very  kindly  about  the  eyes,  and  set  atop  of  the 
oddest  body  in  the  world :  for  under  a  trunk  extra- 
ordinary broad  and  strong,  straddled  a  pair  of  legs  that  a 
baby  would  have  disown'd — so  thin  and  stunted  were 
they,  and  (to  make  it  the  queerer)  ended  in  feet  the 
most  prodigious  you  ever  saw. 


l68  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

As  I  said,  this  man  leant  forward,  and  shouted  into 
my  ear  so  that  I  fairly  leapt  in  the  air — 

**  My  name's  Pottery — Bill  Pottery,  cap'n  o'  the 
Godse?id — an'  you  can't  make  me  hear,  not  if  you  bust 
yoursel'  I " 

You  may  think  this  put  me  in  a  fine  quandary. 

''  I  be  deaf  as  nails  I  '*  bawl'd  he. 

Twas  horrible :  for  the  troopers  (I  thought)  if  any- 
where near,  could  not  miss  hearing  him.  His  voice 
shook  the  very  rigging. 

" ,  ,  .  An'  o'  my  crew  the  half  ashore  gettin' 
drunk,  an'  the  half  below  in  a  very  accomplished  state 
o'  liquor :  so  there's  no  chance  for  'ee  to  speak  I  " 

He  paus'd  a  moment,  then  roared  again — 

"  What  a  pity  I  'Cos  you  make  me  very  curious — 
that  you  do  !  " 

Luckily,  at  this  moment,  Delia  had  the  sense  to  put 
a  finger  to  her  lip.  The  man  wheel'd  round  without 
another  word,  led  us  aft  over  the  blocks,  cordage,  and  all 
manner  of  loose  gear  that  encumber'd  the  deck,  to  a 
ladder  that,  towards  the  stern,  led  down  into  darkness. 
Here  he  sign'd  to  us  to  follow ;  and,  descending  first, 
threw  open  a  door,  letting  out  a  faint  stream  of  light  in 
our  faces.  'Twas  the  captain's  cabin,  lin'd  with  cup- 
boards  and   lockers  :  and   the   light  came  from  an  oil 


CAPTAIN  POTTEEY  AND  CAPTAIN  SETTLE.     159 

lamp  hanging  over  a  narrow  deal  table.  By  this  light 
Captain  Billy  scrutinised  us  for  an  instant :  then,  from 
one  of  his  lockers,  brought  out  pen,  paper,  and  ink,  and 
set  them  on  the  table  before  me. 

I  caught  up  the  pen,  dipp'd  it,  and  began  to  write— 

•*  I  am  John  Marvel,  a  servant  of  King  Charles ;  and  thia 
night  am  escap'd  out  of  Bristol  Castle.     If  you  bo        " 

Thus  far  I  had  written  without  glancing  up,  in  fear 
to  read  the  disappointment  of  my  hopes.  But  now  the 
pen  was  caught  suddenly  from  my  fingers,  the  paper 
torn  in  shreds,  and  there  was  Master  Pottery  shaking 
us  both  by  the  hand,  nodding  and  becking,  and  smiling 
the  while  all  over  his  big  red  face. 

But  he  ceas'd  at  last :  and  opening  another  of  his 
lockers,  drew  forth  a  horn  lantern,  a  mallet,  and  a  chisel. 
Not  a  word  was  spoken  as  he  lit  the  lantern  and  passed 
out  of  the  cabin,  Delia  and  I  following  at  his  heels. 

Just  outside,  at  the  foot  of  the  steps,  he  stoop'd, 
puird  up  a  trap  in  the  flooring,  and  disclos'd  another 
ladder  stretching,  as  it  seem'd,  down  into  the  bowels  of 
the  ship.  This  we  descended  carefully ;  and  found  our- 
selves in  the  hold,  pinching  our  noses  ^twixt  finger  and 
thumb. 

For   indeed  the    smell    here   was    searching  to    a 


160  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

very  painftil  degree  :  for  the  room  was  narrow,  and 
every  inch  of  it  contested  by  two  puissant  essences,  the 
one  of  raw  wool,  the  other  of  bilge-water.  With  wool 
the  place  was  pil'd :  but  also  I  noticed,  not  far  from  the 
ladder,  several  casks  set  on  their  ends ;  and  to  these  the 
Captain  led  us. 

They  were  about  a  dozen  in  all,  stackM  close  together : 
and  Master  Pottery,  rolling  two  apart  from  the  rest, 
dragg'd  them  to  another  trap  and  tugg'd  out  the  bungs. 
A  stream  of  fresh  water  gushM  from  each  and  splashed 
down  the  trap  into  the  bilge  below.  Then,  having 
drained  them,  he  staved  in  their  heads  with  a  few  blows 
of  his  mallet. 

His  plan  for  us  was  clear.  And  in  a  very  few 
minutes  Delia  and  I  were  crouching  on  the  timbers,  each 
with  a  cask  inverted  over  us,  our  noses  at  the  bung- 
holes  and  our  ears  listening  to  Master  Pottery's  footsteps 
as  they  climVd  heavily  back  to  deck.  The  rest  of  the 
casks  were  stacked  close  round  us,  so  that  even  had  the 
gloom  allow'd,  we  could  see  nothing  at  alL 

"Jack  I" 

"Delia!" 

'<  Dost  feel  heroical  at  all  ?  " 

*'  Not  one  whit.  There's  a  trickle  of  water  running 
down  my  back,  to  begin  with." 


CAPTAIN    POTTERY    /  JlD    CAPTAIN    SETTLE.  161 

"  And  my  nose  it  itci^es;  and  oh,  what  a  hateful 
smell !     Say  something  to  me,  Jack/' 

"  My  dear,''  said  I,  "  there  is  one  thing"  IVe  been 
longing  these  weeks  to  say  :  but  this  seems  an  odd  place 
for  it." 

"Whatis't?'' 

I  purs'd  up  my  lips  to  the  bung-hole,  and — 

"  I  love  you,"  said  I. 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment :  and  then,  within 
Delia's  cask,  the  sound  of  muffled  laughter. 

"  Delia,"  I  urg'd,  "  I  mean  it,  upon  my  oath.  Wilt 
marry  me,  sweetheart  ?  " 

"  Must  get  out  of  this  cask  first.  Oh,  Jack,  what  a 
dear  goose  thou  art  1  "     And  the  laughter  began  again. 

I  was  going  to  answer,  when  I  heard  a  loud  shouting 
overhead.  'Twas  the  sound  of  someone  hailing  the  ship, 
and  thought  I,  "  the  troopers  are  on  us  !  " 

They  were,  in  truth.  Soon  I  heard  the  noise  of  feet 
above  and  a  string  of  voices  speaking  one  after  another, 
louder  and  louder.  And  next  Master  Pottery-  began  to 
answer  up  and  drown'd  all  speech  but  his  own.  When  he 
ceas'd,  there  was  silence  for  some  minutes  :  after  which 
we  heard  a  party  descend  to  the  cabin,  and  the  trampling 
of  their  feet  on  the  boards  above  us.  They  remained 
there  some  while  discussing :  and  then  came  footsteps 
L 


162  THB    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

down  the  second  ladder,  and  a  twinkle  of  light  reached 
me  throug-h  the  bung-hole  of  my  cask. 

"  Quick  1  "  said  a  husky  voice ;  "  overhaul  the  cargo 
here!*' 

I  heard  some  half-dozen  troopers  bustUng  about  the 
hold  and  tugging  out  the  bales  of  wool. 

"Hi!"  caird  Master  Pottery:  *'an'  when  you've 
done  rummaging  my  ship,  put  everything  back  as  you 
found  it." 

"  Poke  about  with  your  swords/*  commanded  the 
husky  voice.     "  What's  in  those  barrels  yonder  ?  '* 

"  Water,  sergeant/*  answers  a  trooper,  rolling  out  a 
couple. 

"  Nothing  behind  them  ?  '' 

"  No  ;  they're  right  against  the  side." 

"  Drop   'em  then.     Plague  on  this  business  I     *Ti8 

my  notion  they*re  a  mile  away,  and  Cap*n  Stubbs  no 

better  than  a  fool  to  send  us  back  here.     He*s  grrudsrinff 

promotion,  that's  what  he  is  1     Hurry,  there — hurry  I  ** 

*  *  ♦  *  ♦ 

Ten  minutes  later,  the  searchers  were  gone;  and  we 
in  our  casks  drawing  long  breaths  of  thankfulness  and 
strong  odours.  And  so  we  crouch'd  till,  about  mid- 
night, Cai)tain  Billy  brought  us  down  a  supper  of  ship*8 
biscuit:  which  we  crept  forth  to  eat,  being  sorely  cramp*d. 


CAPTAIN    POTTERY    AND    CAPTAIN    SETTLE.  163 

He  could  not  hear  our  thanks  :  but  g-uessM  them. 

*'  Now  say  not  a  word !  To-morrow  we  sail  for 
Plymouth  Sound  :  thence  for  Brittany.  Hist  1  We  be 
all  King's  men  aboard  the  Godsend,  tho'  hearing  nought 
I  says  little.  Yet  I  have  my  reasoning  heresies,  holding 
the  Lord^s  Anointed  to  be  an  anointed  rogue,  but  never- 
theless to  be  served :  just  as  aboard  the  Godsend  I  be 
Capt'n  Billy  an'  you  plain  Jack,  be  your  virtues  what 
they  may.  An'  the  conclusion  is — damn  all  mutineers 
an'  rebels !  Tho',  to  be  sure,  the  words  be  a  bit  lusty 
for  a  young  gentlewoman*s  ears." 

"We  went  back  to  our  casks  with  lighter  hearts. 
Howbeit  'twas  near  five  in  the  morning,  I  dare  say, 
before  my  narrow  bedchamber  allow'd  me  to  drop 
asleep. 

I  woke  to  spy  through  my  bunghole  the  faint  light 
of  day  struggling  down  the  hatches.  Above,  I  heard 
a  clanking  noise,  and  the  voices  of  the  men  hiccoughing 
a  dismal  chant.  They  were  lifting  anchor.  I  crawl'd 
forth  and  woke  Delia,  who  was  yet  sleeping :  and 
together  we  ate  the  breakfast  that  lay  ready  set  for  us 
on  the  head  of  a  barrel. 

Presently  the  sailors  broke  off  their  song,  and  we 
heard  their  feet  shuffling  to  and  fro  on  deck. 

"  Sure,"  cried  Delia,  "  we  are  moving !  " 
l2 


164  TriE    SPLENDID    SPUB.. 

And  surely  we  were,  as  could  be  told  by  tbe  alier'd 
sound  of  the  water  beneath  us,  and  the  many  creaking^ 
that  the  Godsend  hos^n  to  keep.  Once  more  I  tasted 
freedom  again,  and  ^he  joy  of  living,  and  could  have 
sung  for  the  mirth  that  lifted  my  heart.  "  Let  us  but 
gain  open  sea,"  said  I,  "  and  I'll  have  tit-for-tat  with 
these  rebels  I  " 

But  alas  !  before  we  had  left  Avon  mouth  twenty 
minutes,  'twas  another  tale.  For  I  lay  on  my  side  in 
that  dark  hold  and  long'd  to  die  :  and  Delia  sat  up 
beside  me,  her  hands  in  her  lap,  and  her  great  eyes 
fixt  most  dolefully.  And  when  Captain  Billy  came 
down  with  news  that  we  were  safe  and  free  to  go  on 
deck,  we  turn'd  our  faces  from  him,  and  said  we  thank'd 
him  kindly,  but  had  no  longer  any  wish  that  way — too 
wietched,  even,  to  remember  his  deafness. 

Let  me  avoid,  then,  some  miserable  hours,  and 
3ome  to  the  evening,  when,  faint  with  fasting  and 
nausea,  we  struggled  up  to  the  deck  for  air,  and  look'd 
about  us. 

'Twas  grey — grey  everywhere :  the  sky  lead- 
colour'd,  with  deeper  shades  towards  the  east,  where  a 
bank  oi  cloud  blotted  the  coast-line :  the  thick  rain 
descending  straight,  with  hardly  wind  enough  to  set  the 
sails  dapping ;  the  sea  spread  like  a  plate  of  lead,  save 


CAPTAIN  POTTERY  AND  CAPTAIN  SETTLE.     166 

only  where,  to  leeward,  a  streak  of  curded  white  crawled 
away  from  under  the  Godsend's  keel. 

On  deck,  a  few  sailors  moVd  about,  red-eyed  and 
heavy.  They  showM  no  surprise  to  see  us,  but  nodded 
very  friendly,  with  a  smile  for  our  strange  complexions. 
Here  again,  as  ever,  did  adversity  mock  her  own  image. 

But  what  more  took  our  attention  was  to  see  a  row 
of  men  stretched  on  the  starboard  side,  like  corpses, 
their  heads  in  the  scuppers,  their  legs  pointed  in- 
board, and  very  orderly  arranged.  They  were  a  dozen 
and  two  in  all,  and  over  them  bent  Captain  Billy  with  a 
mop  in  his  hand,  and  a  bucket  by  his  side  :  who  beckoned 
that  we  should  approach. 

"  Array'd  in  order  o'  merit,"  said  he,  pointing  with 
his  mop  like  a  showman  to  the  line  of  figures  before  him. 

We  drew  near. 

"  This  here  is  Matt.  Soames,  master  o'  this  vessel — 
an'  he's  dead." 

"Dead?" 

"  Dead-drunk,  that  is,  O  the  gifted  man !  Come 
up  I "  He  thrust  the  mop  in  the  fellow's  heavy  face. 
"  There  now  1  Did  he  move,  did  he  wink  ?  '  No,'  says 
you.     O  an  accomplished  drunkard !  " 

He  paus'd  a  moment;  then  stirr'd  up  No.  2,  who 
open'd  one  eye  lazily,  and  shut  it  again  in  slumber. 


166  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 


€t 


You  saw?  Open'd  one  eye,  hey?  That's  Ben- 
jamin Halliday.  The  next  is  a  black  man,  as  you  see  . 
a  man  of  dismal  colour,  and  hath  other  drawbacks 
natural  to  such.  Can  the  iEthiop  shift  his  skin  ?  No, 
but  he'll  open  both  eyes.  See  there — a  perfect  Christian, 
in  so  far  as  drink  can  make  him." 

With  like  comments  he  ran  down  the  line  till  he 
came  to  the  last  man,  in  front  of  whom  he  stepp'd  back. 

"About  this  last — he's  a  puzzler.  Times  I  put 
him  top  o'  the  list,  an*  times  at  the  tail.  That's  Ned 
Masters,  an'  was  once  the  Reverend  Edward  Masters, 
Bachelor  o*  Divinity  in  Cambridge  College;  but  in  a 
tavern  there  fell  a-talking  with  a  certain  Pelagian  about 
Adam  an'  Eve,  an'  because  the  fellow  turn'd  stubborn, 
put  a  knife  into  his  waistband,  an'  had  to  run  away  to 
sea :  a  middling  drinker  only,  but  after  a  quart  or  so  to 
hear  him  tackle  Predestination  I  So  there  be  times 
after  all  when  I  sets'n  apart,  and  says,  '  Drunk, 
you'm    no    good,    but    half -drunk,    you'm    priceless.* 

Now  there's  a  man "     He  dropp'd  his  mop,  and, 

leading  us  aft,  pointed  with  admiring  finger  to  the 
helmsman — a  thin,  wizen'd  fellow,  with  a  face  like  a 
crab-apple,  and  a  pair  of  piercing  grey  eyes  half-hidden 
by  the  droop  of  his  wrinkled  lids.  "  Gabriel  Hutchins, 
how  old  be  you  ?  " 


CAPTAIN    POTTERY    AND    CAPTAIN   SETTLE.  iH? 

"  Sixty-four,  come  next  Martinmas/'  pip'd  the 
helmsman. 

"  In  what  state  o'  life  ?  " 

"Drunk." 

"How  drunk?" 

"As  a  lord!" 

"  Canst  stand  upright  ?  ** 

"  Hee-hee  !  Now  could  I  iver  do  other  ? — a  miser- 
able ould  worms  to  whom  the  sweet  effects  o'  quantums 
be  denied.  TVTien  was  I  iver  wholesomely  maz'd  ?  Or 
when  did  I  lay  my  grey  hairs  on  the  floor,  saying, 
*  'Tis  enough,  an'  'tis  good  '  ?  Answer  me  that,  Cap*n 
BUl.^' 

"  But  you  hopes  for  the  best,  Gabriel." 

"Aye,  I  hopes — I  hopes.'* 

The  old  man  sigh'd  as  he  brought  the  Godsend  a 
point  nearer  the  wind ;  and,  as  we  turn'd  away  with 
the  Captain,  was  still  muttering,  his  sharp  grey  eyet 
fix'd  on  the  vessel's  prow. 

"  He's  my  best,"  said  Captain  Billy  Pottery. 

With  this  crew  we  pass'd  four  days;  and  I  write 
this  much  of  them  because  they  afterwards,  when  sober, 
did  me  a  notable  good  turn,  as  you  shall  read  towards 
the  end  of  this  history.      But  lest  you  should  judg«> 


168  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

them  hardl}  ,  let  me  say  here  that  when  they  recover'd 
of  their  stupor — as  happen 'd  to  the  worst  aftor  thirty- 
six  hours — there  was  no  brisker,  handier  set  of  fellows 
on  the  seas.  And  this  Captain  Billy  well  understood : 
"  but  "  (said  he)  "I  be  a  collector  an'  a  man  o'  con- 
science both,  which  is  uncommon.  Doubtless  there  be 
good  sots  that  are  not  good  seamen,  but  from  such  I 
turn  my  face,  drink  they  never  so  prettily." 

'Twas  necessary  I  should  impart  some  notion  of  mj 
errand  to  Captain  Billy,  tho'  I  confined  myself  to  hints, 
telling  him  only  'twas  urgent  I  sliould  be  put  ashore 
somewhere  on  the  Cornish  coast,  for  that  I  carried 
intelligence  which  would  not  keep  till  we  reach'J 
Plymouth,  a  town  that,  besides,  was  held  by  the  rebels. 
And  he  agreed  readily  to  land  me  in  Bude  Bay  :  "  and 
also  thy  comrade,  if  (as  I  guess)  she  be  so  minded," 
he  added,  glancing  up  at  Delia  from  the  paper  whereon 
I  had  written  my  request. 

She  had  been  silent  of  late,  beyond  her  wont,  avoid- 
ing (I  thought)  to  meet  my  eye :  but  answcrM  simply, 

"  I  go  with  Jack." 

Captain  Billy,  whose  eyes  rested  on  her  as  she  spoke, 
beckonM  nn;,  very  mysterious,  outside  the  cabin,  and 
winking  slily,  whisperM  loud  enough  to  stun  one — 

"  Ply  her,  Ja.k  "—he  ha<l  call'd  me  "  Jack  "  from 


CAPTAIN  POTTERY  AKD  CAPTAIN  SETTLE.     169 

the  first — "  ply  her  briskly  !  Womankind  is  but  yield- 
ing flesh :  'am  an  amorous  man  mysel',  an*  speak  but 
that  I  have  prov'd/' 

On  this — for  the  whole  ship  could  hear  it — there 
certainly  came  the  sound  of  a  stifled  laugh  from  the 
other  side  of  the  cabin  door :  but  it  did  not  mend  my 
comrade's  shy  humour,  that  lasted  throughout  the 
voyage. 

To  be  brief,  'twas  not  till  the  fourth  afternoon 
(by  reason  of  baffling  head  winds)  that  we  stepped  out 
of  the  Godsend's  boat  upon  a  small  beach  of  shingle, 
whence,  between  a  rift  in  the  black  cliffs,  wound  up  the 
road  that  was  to  lead  us  inland.  The  Godsend,  as  we 
turn'd  to  wave  our  hands,  lay  at  half  a  mile's  distance, 
and  made  a  pretty  sight :  for  the  day,  that  had  begun 
with  a  white  frost,  was  now  turn'd  sunny  and  still,  so 
that  looking  north  we  saw  the  sea  all  spread  with  pink 
and  lilac  and  hyacinth,  and  upon  it  the  ship  lit  up,  her 
masts  and  sails  glowing  like  a  gold-piece.  And  there 
was  Billy,  leaning  over  the  bulwarks  and  waving 
liig  trumpet  for  "  Good-bye  I "  Thought  I,  for  I 
little  dream'd  to  see  these  good  fellows  again,  "what 
a  witless  game  is  this  life  !  to  seek  ever  in  fresh  con- 
junctions what  we  leave  behind  in  a  hand-shake." 
'Twas  a  cheap  reflection,  yet  it  vex'd  me  that  as  we 


170  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR, 

turnM    to    mount    the   road    Delia    should    break    out 

singing — 

"  Hey  I  nonni — nonni — no  I 
Is't  not  fine  to  laugh  and  sing 
When  tho  bells  of  death  do  ring  I — ' 

"Why,  no,"  said  I,  ''I  don't  think  it" :  and  cappM 
her  verse  with  another — 

"  Silly  man,  the  cost  to  find 
Is  to  leave  as  good  beliind — * 

"  Jack,  for  pity's  sake,  stop  1  "  She  put  her  fingers 
to  her  ears.  "  What  a  nasty,  creaking  voice  thou  hast, 
to  be  sure  I  " 

"  That's  as  a  man  may  hold,"  said  I,  nettled. 

"  No,  indeed  :  yours  is  a  very  poor  voice,  but  mine 
is  beautiful.     So  listen." 

She  went  on  to  sing  as  she  went,  "  Green  as  grass 
is  my  kirtle,"  "  Tire  rae  in  tiffany,"  "  Come  ye  bearded 
men-at-arms,''  and  "The  Bending  Rush."  All  these 
she  sang,  as  I  must  confess,  most  delicately  well,  and 
then  fac'd  me,  with  a  happy  smile — 

"  Now,  have  not  I  a  sweet  voice  ?  Why,  Jack — art 
still  glum  ?  " 

"Delia,"  answer'd  I,  *'you  have  first  to  givG  me 
a  reply  to  what,  four  days  agone,  I  ask'd  you.  Dear 
girl — nay  then,  dear  comrade " 


CAPTAIN    POTTERY    AND    CAPTAIN    SETTLE.  171 

I  broke  off,  for  she  had  come  to  a  stop,  wringing  hei 
hands  and  looking  in  my  face  most  dolefully. 

"  Oh,  dear — oh,  dear  1  Jack,  we  have  had  such  merry 
times  :  and  you  are  spoiling  all  the  fun  I  " 

We  foUow'd  the  road  after  this  very  moodily;  for 
Delia,  virhom  I  had  made  sharer  of  the  rebels'  secret, 
agreed  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost  in  reaching  Bodmin, 
that  lay  a  good  thirty  miles  to  the  south-west.  Night 
fell  and  the  young  moon  rose,  with  a  brisk  breeze  at  our 
backs  that  kept  us  still  walking  without  any  feeling  of 
weariness.  Captain  Billy  had  given  me  at  parting  a 
small  compass,  of  new  invention,  that  a  man  could  carry 
easily  in  his  pocket;  and  this  from  time  to  time  I 
examined  in  the  moonlight,  guiding  our  way  almost  due 
south,  in  hopes  of  striking  into  the  main  road  westward. 
I  doubt  not  we  lost  a  deal  of  time  among  the  by-ways  ; 
but  at  length  happened  on  a  good  road  bearing  south, 
and  followed  it  till  daybreak,  when  to  our  satisfaction 
we  spied  a  hill  in  front,  topped  with  a  stout  castle,  and 
under  it  a  town  of  importance,  that  we  guese'd  to  be 
Launceston. 

By  this,  my  comrade  and  I  were  on  the  best  of 
terms  again  ;  and  now  drew  up  to  consider  if  we  should 
enter  the  town  or  avoid  it  to  the  west,  trusting  to  find  a 


172 


THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 


breakfast  in  some  tavern  on  tlie  way.  Because  we 
knew  not  with  certainty  the  temper  of  the  country^  it 
seem'd  best  to  choose  this  second  course  :  so  we  fetch'd 
around  by  certain  barren  meadows,  and  thought  our- 
selves lucky  to  hit  on  a  road  that,  by  the  size,  must  be 
the  one  we  sought,  and  a  tavern  with  a  wide  yard 
before  it  and  a  carter's  van  standing  at  the  entrance, 
not  three  gunshots  from  the  town  walls. 

"  Now  Providence  hath  surely  led  us  to  breakfast,** 
said  Delia,  and  stepp'd  before  me  into  the  yard,  towards 
the  door. 

I  was  following  her  when,  inside  of  a  gate  to  the 
right  of  the  house,  I  caught  the  gleam  of  steel,  and 
turned  aside  to  look. 

To  my  dismay  there  stood  near  a  score  of  chargers 
in  this  second  court,  saddled  and  dripping  with  sweat. 
My  first  thought  was  to  run  after  Delia ;  but  a  quick 
surprise  made  me  rub  my  eyes  with  wonder — 

'Twas  the  sight  of  a  sorrel  mare  among  them — a 
mare  with  one  high  white  stocking.  In  a  thousand  I 
could  have  told  her  for  Molly. 

Three  seconds  after  I  was  at  the  tavern  door,  and  in 
my  ears  a  voice  sounding  that  stopp'd  me  short  and  told 
me  in  one  instant  that  without  God's  help  all  was  lost. 
*Twas  the  voice  of  Captain  Settle  speaking  in  the 


CAPTAIN  POTTERY  AND  CAPTAIN  SETTLE.     173 

tap-room;  and   already  Delia  stood,  past  concealment, 
by  the  open  door. 

" .  .  .  And  therefore,  master  carter,  it  ^evei! 
me  to  disappoint  thee ;  but  no  man  goeth  this  daj 
toward  Bodmin.  Such  be  my  Lord  of  Stamford^e 
orders,  whose  servant  I  am,  and  as  captain  of  this  troop 
I  am  sent  to  exact  them.  As  they  displease  you,  his 
lordship  is  but  twenty-four  hours  behind :  you  can 
abide  him  and  complain.  Doubtless  he  will  hear — 
ten  million  devils  !  " 

I  heard  his  shout  as  he  caught  sight  of  Delia.  I 
saw  his  crimson  face  as  he  darted  out  and  gripped  her. 
I  saw,  or  half  saw,  the  troopers  crowding  out  after  him. 
For  a  moment  I  hesitated.  Then  came  my  pretty  com- 
rade's voice,  shrill  above  the  hubbub— 

"  Jack — they  have  horses  outside  1  Leave  me — I  am 
ta'en — and  ride,  dear  lad — ride  1  '* 

In  a  flash  my  decision  was  taken,  for  better  or  worse. 
I  dasVd  out  around  the  house,  vaulted  the  gate,  and 
catching  at  Molly's  mane,  leapt  into  the  saddle. 

A  dozen  troopers  were  at  the  gate,  and  two  had  their 
pistols  leveird. 

"  Surrender  I " 

"  Be  hang'd  if  I  do  ! " 

I  set  my  teeth  and  put  Molly  at  the  low  wall.     As 


174  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

she  rose  like  a  bird  in  air  the  two  pistols  ran^  out 
together,  and  a  burning  pain  seem'd  to  tear  open  my  left 
shoulder.  In  a  moment  the  mare  alighted  safe  on  the 
other  side,  flinging  me  forward  on  her  neck.  But  I 
scrambled  back,  and  with  a  shout  that  f  righten'd  my  own 
ears,  dug  my  heels  into  her  flanks. 

Half  a  minute  more  and  I  was  on  the  hard  road, 
galloping  westward  for  dear  life.  So  also  were  a  score 
of  rebel  troopers.  Twenty  miles  and  more  lay  before  me  ; 
and  a  bare  hundred  yards  was  all  my  start. 


175 


CHAPTER    XI. 

I    BIDE    DOWN    INTO    TEMPLE  :    AND    AM   WELL-TBJLATID 

THERE. 

And  now  I  did  indeed  abandon  myself  to  despair.  Few 
would  have  given  a  groat  for  my  life,  with  that  crew 
at  my  heels;  and  I  least  of  all,  now  that  my  dear  com- 
rade was  lost.  The  wound  in  my  shoulder  was  bleeding 
sore — I  could  feel  the  warm  stream  welling — yet  not  so 
sore  as  my  heart.  And  I  pressed  my  knees  into  the 
saddle-flap;  and  wondered  what  the  end  would  be. 

The  sorrel  mare  was  galloping,  free  and  strong,  her 
delicate  ears  laid  back,  and  the  network  of  veins  under 
her  soft  skin  working  with  the  heave  and  fall  of  her 
withers :  yet — by  the  mud  and  sweat  about  her — I 
knew  she  must  have  travelled  far  before  I  mounted. 
I  heard  a  shot  or  two  fired,  far  up  the  road : 
tho'  their  bullets  must  have  fallen  short :  at  least,  I 
heard  none  whiz  past.  But  the  rebels'  shouting  was 
clear  enoug-h,  and  the  thud  of  their  gallop  behind. 

I  think  that,  for  a  mile  or  two,  I  must  have  ridden 
in  a  sort  of  swoon.  'Tis  certain,  not  an  inch  of  the 
road  comes  back  to  me  :  nor  did  I  once  turn  my  head  to 


176  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

look  back,  but  sat  with  my  eyes  fastened  stapidly  on 
the  mare's  ueck.  And  by-and-bye,  as  we  galloped,  the 
smart  of  my  wound,  the  heart-ache,  hurry,  pounding 
of  hoofs — all  dropp'd  to  an  enchanting  lull.  I  rode,  and 
that  was  all. 

For,  swoon  or  no,  I  was  lifted  off  earth,  as  it 
seemed,  and  on  easy  wings  to  an  incredible  height, 
where  were  no  longer  hedges,  nor  road,  nor  country 
rovmd ;  but  a  great  stillness,  and  only  the  mare  and  I 
running  languidly  through  it, 

"Ride  I'' 

Now,  at  first,  I  thought  'twas  someone  speaking 
this  in  my  ear,  and  turn'd  my  head.  But  'twas  really 
the  last  word  I  had  heard  from  Delia,  now  after 
half  an  hour  repeated  in  my  brain.  And  as  I  grew 
aware  of  this,  the  dulness  fell  off  me,  and  all  became 
very  distinct.  And  the  muscles  about  my  wound  had 
Btiffen'd — which  was  vilely  painful :  and  the  country,  I 
saw,  was  a  brown,  barren  moor,  dotted  with  peat-ricks : 
and  I  ciu"sed  it. 

This  did  me  good :  for  it  woke  the  fighting-man  in 
me,  and  I  set  my  teeth.  Now  for  the  first  time  look- 
ing back,  I  saw,  with  a  great  gulp  of  joy,  I  had  gained 
on  the  troopers.  A  long  dip  of  the  road  lay  between 
me  and  the  foremost^  now  topping  the  crest.     The  sun 


I    RIDE    DOWN    INTO   TEMPLE.  177 

had  broke  tlirougli  at  last,  and  sparkled  on  his  cap  and 
g-orget.  I  whistled  to  Molly  (I  could  not  pat  her),  and 
spoke  to  her  softly :  the  sweet  thing  pricked  up  her  ears, 
laid  them  back  again,  and  mended  her  pace.  Her  stride 
was  beautiful  to  feel. 

I  had  yet  no  clear  idea  how  to  escape.  In  front  the 
moors  rose  gradually,  swelling  to  the  horizon  line,  and 
there  broken  into  steep,  jagged  heights.  The  road  under 
me  was  sound  white  granite  and  stretch'd  away  till  lost 
among  these  fastnesses — in  all  of  it  no  sign  of  man's 
habitation.  Be  sure  I  look'd  along  it,  and  to  right  and 
left,  dreading  to  spy  more  troopers.  But  for  mile  on 
mile,  all  was  desolate. 

Now  and  then  I  caught  the  cry  of  a  pee-wit,  or  saw 
a  snipe  glance  up  from  his  bed :  but  mainly  I  was 
busied  about  the  mare.  "  Let  us  but  gain  the  ridge 
ahead,*'  thought  I,  "and  there  is  a  chance.''  So  I 
rode  as  light  as  I  could,  husbanding  her  powers. 

She  was  going  her  best,  but  the  best  was  near  spent. 
The  sweat  was  oozing,  her  satin  coat  losing  the  gloss, 
the  spume  flying  back  from  her  nostrils — "  Soh  I  "  I 
called  to  her :  "  Soh !  my  beauty ;  we  ride  to  save  an 
army  !  "  The  loose  stones  flew  right  and  left,  as  she 
reaeh'd  out  her  neck,  and  her  breath  came  shorter  and 
shorter. 
K 


178  THE    SPLENDID    6^Vh.. 

A  mile,  and  another  mile,  we  passed  in  this  trirt, 
and  by  the  end  of  it  must  have  spent  three-quarters  of 
an  hour  at  the  work.  Glanciug  back,  I  saw  the  trooperg 
scattered;  far  behind,  but  following.  The  heights  were 
still  a  weary  way  ahead  :  but  I  could  mark  their  steep 
sides  ribb'd  with  boulders.  Till  these  were  passed, 
there  was  no  chance  to  hide.  The  parties  in  this  race 
could  see  each  other  all  the  way,  and  must  ride  it  out. 

And  all  the  way  the  ground  kept  rising.  I  had  no 
means  to  ease  the  mare,  even  by  pulling  off  my  heavy 
jack-boots,  with  one  arm  (and  that  my  right)  dangling 
useless.  Once  she  flung  up  her  head  and  I  caught  sight 
of  her  nostril,  red  as  fire,  and  her  poor  eyes  starting.  I 
felt  her  strength  ebbing  between  my  knees.  Here  and 
there  she  blundered  in  her  stride.  And  somewhere,  over 
the  ridge  yonder,  lay  the  Army  of  the  West,  and  we 
alone  could  save  it. 

The  road,  for  half  a  mile,  now  fetched  a  sudden 
loop,  though  the  country  on  either  side  was  level 
enough.  Had  my  head  been  cool,  I  must  have  guessed 
a  reason  for  this  :  but,  you  must  remember,  I  had  long 
been  giddy  with  pain  and  loss  of  blood — so,  thinking  to 
gave  time,  I  turned  Molly  off  the  granite,  and  began  to 
cut  across. 

The   short  grass   and  heath   being  still  frozen,  we 


I   KIDE    DOWN    INTO    TEMPLE.  179 

went  fairly  for  the  first  minute  or  so.  But  away  behind 
us,  I  heard  a  shout — and  it  must  have  been  loud  to 
reach  me.  I  learnt  the  meaning  when,  about  two 
hundred  yards  before  we  came  on  the  road  again,  the 
mare's  forelegs  went  deep,  and  next  minute  we  were 
plunging  in  a  black  peat-quag. 

Heaven  can  tell  how  we  won  through.  It  must 
have  been  still  partly  frozen,  and  perhaps  we  were  only 
on  the  edge  of  it.  I  only  know  that  as  we  scrambled 
up  on  solid  ground,  plastered  and  breathless,  I  looked  at 
the  wintry  sun,  the  waste,  and  the  tall  hill  towering  to 
the  right  of  us,  and  thought  it  a  strange  place  to 
die  in. 

For  the  struggle  had  burst  open  my  wound  again, 
and  the  blood  was  running  down  my  arm  and  off  my 
fingers  in  a  stream.  And  now  I  could  count  every  gorse- 
bush,  every  stone — and  now  I  saw  nothing  at  all.  And 
I  heard  the  tinkling  of  bells  :  and  then  found  a  tune 
running  in  my  head — 'twas  "  Tire  me  in  tiffany,'*  and 
I  tried  to  think  where  last  I  heard  it. 

But  sweet  gallant  Molly  must  have  held  on :  for 
the  next  thing  I  woke  up  to  was  a  four-hol'd  cross 
beside  the  road ;  and  soon  after  we  were  over  the 
ridge  and  clattering  down-hill. 

A  rough  tor  had  risen  full  in  front,  but  the  road 
m2 


180  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

swerved  to  the  left  and  took  us  down  among  the  spur* 
of  it.  Now  was  my  last  look-out.  I  tried  to  sway  less 
heavily  in  the  saddle,  and  with  my  eyes  searched  the 
plain  at  our  feet. 

Alas  1  Beneath  us  the  waste-land  was  spread,  mile 
upon  mile :  and  I  groaned  aloud.  For  just  helow  I 
noted  a  clump  of  roofless  cabins,  and  beyond,  upon  the 
moors,  the  dotted  walls  of  sheep-cotes,  ruined  also  :  but 
in  all  the  sad-colour'd  leagues  no  living  man,  nor  the 
sign  of  one.  It  was  done  with  us.  I  reined  up  the 
mare — and  then,  in  the  same  motion,  wheeled  her  sharp 
to  the  right 

High  above,  on  the  hill-side,  a  voice  was  calling. 

I  lookM  up.  Below  the  steeper  ridge  of  the  tor  a 
patch  of  land  had  been  cleared  for  tillage  :  and  here  a 
yoke  of  oxen  was  moving  leisurely  before  a  plough 
('twas  their  tinkling  bells  I  had  heard,  just  now)  ;  while 
behind  followed  the  wildest  shape — by  the  voice,  a 
woman. 

She  was  not  calling  to  me,  but  to  her  team  :  and  as 
I  put  Molly  at  the  slope,  her  chant  rose  and  fell  in  the 
mournfullest  sing-song. 

"  So-hoa  !     Oop  Comely  Vean  !  oop,  then — o-oop  !  " 

I  rose  in  my  stirru])s  and  shouted. 

At   this    and    the    sound   of   hoofs,  she  stayM    the 


I   BIDE    DOWN    INTO   TEMPLE.  181 

plough  and^  hand  on  hip,  looked  down  the  slope.  The 
oxen,  softly  rattling  the  chains  on  their  yoke,  turn'd 
their  necks  and  gazed.  With  sunk  head  Molly  heaved 
herself  up  the  last  few  yards  and  came  to  a  halt  with  a 
stagger.  I  slipped  out  of  the  saddle  and  stood,  with  % 
hand  on  it,  swaying. 

"  What's  thy  need,  young  man — that  comest  down 
to  Temple  wi'  sword  a-danglin'  ?  *' 

The  girl  was  a  half-naked  savage,  drest  only  in  a 
strip  of  sacking  that  barely  reached  her  knees,  and  a 
scant  bodice  of  the  same,  lac'd  in  front  with  pack- 
thread, that  left  her  bosom  and  brown  arms  free.  Yet 
she  appeared  no  whit  abasht,  but  leant  on  the  plough- 
tail  and  regarded  me,  easy  and  frank,  as  a  man  would. 

"  Sell  me  a  horse,''  I  blurted  out :  "  Twenty  guineas 
will  I  give  for  one  within  five  minutes,  and  more  if  he 
be  good  I     I  ride  on  the  King's  errand." 

"  Then  get  thee  back  to  thy  master,  an'  say,  no 
horse  shall  he  have  o'  me — nor  any  man  that  uses  horse- 
flesh so."  She  pointed  to  Molly's  knees,  that  were 
bow'd  and  shaking,  and  the  bloody  froth  dripping  from 
her  mouth. 

"  Girl,  for  God's  sake  sell  me  a  horse  !  They  are 
after  me,  and  I  am  hurt."  I  pointed  up  the  road, 
"  Better  than  I  are  concerned  in  thia" 


182  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

"God  nor  King  know  I,  young  man.  But  what'i 
on  thy  saddle-cloth,  there  ?  *' 

'Tvvas  the  smear  where  my  blood  had  soak'd  :  and 
looking  and  seeing  the  jmrple  mess  cak'd  with  mud  and 
foam  on  the  sorrel's  flank,  I  felt  suddenly  very  sick. 
The  girl  made  a  step  to  me. 

"  Sell  thee  a  horse  ?  Hire  thee  a  bcdman,  more  like. 
Nay,  then,  lad " 

But  I  saw  her  no  longer  :  only  called  "  oh — oh  I  " 
twice,  like  a  little  chiJi,  and  slipping  my  hold  of  the 
saddle,  dropt  forward  on  her  breast. 

*  «  *  *  # 

Waking,  I  found  myself  in  darkness — not  like  that 
of  night,  but  of  a  room  where  the  lights  have  gone  out : 
and  felt  that  I  was  dying.  But  this  hardly  seemM  a 
thing  to  be  minded.  There  was  a  smell  of  peat  and 
bracken  about.  Presently  I  heard  the  tramp  of  feet 
somewhere  overhead,  and  a  dull  sound  of  voices  that 
appear'd  to  be  cursing. 

The  footsteps  went  to  and  fro,  the  voices  mutter- 
ing most  of  the  time.     After  a  bit  I  caught  a  word 

"  Witchcraft "  :  and  then  a  voice  speaking  quite  close — 
"  There's  blood  'pon  her  hands,  an'  there's  blood  yonder 
by  the  plough."  Said  another  voice,  higher  and 
squeaky,  "  There's    scent   behind  a  fox,  but  you  don't 


1   EIDE    DOWN    INTO   TEMPLE,  183 

dig  it  op  an*  take  it  home."  The  tramp  passed  on,  and 
the  voices  died  away. 

By  this  I  knew  the  troopers  were  close,  and  seeking 
me.  A  foolish  thought  came  that  I  was  buried,  and 
they  must  be  rummaging  over  my  grave  :  but  indeed  I 
had  no  wish  to  enquire  into  it ;  no  wish  to  move  even, 
but  just  to  lie  and  enjoy  the  lightness  of  my  limbs. 
The  blood  was  still  running.  I  felt  the  warmth  of  it 
against  my  back  :  and  thought  it  very  pleasant.  So  I 
shut  my  eyes  and  dropt  off  again. 

Then  I  heard  the  noise  of  shouting,  far  away :  and  a 
long  while  after  that,  was  rousM  by  the  touch  of  a 
hand,  thrust  in  against  my  naked  breast,  over  my  heart. 

"  Who  is  it  ?  *'  I  whispered. 

"  Joan/'  answered  a  voice,  and  the  hand  was  with- 
drawn. 

The  darkness  had  lifted  somewhat,  and  though 
something  stood  between  me  and  the  light,  I  marked  a 
number  of  small  specks,  like  points  of  gold  dotted 
around  me — 

"  Joan — what  besides  ?  " 

"  Joan's  enough,  I  reckon  :  lucky  for  thee  'tis  none 
else.  Joan  o'  the  Tor  folks  call  me,  but  may  yet  be 
Joan  i'  Good  Time,  So  hold  thy  peace,  lad,  an'  cry 
out  so  little  as  may  be." 


184  THE    SPLENDIU    SPUR. 

I  felt  a  ripping  of  my  jacket-sleeve  and  shirt,  now 
clotted  and  stuck  to  the  flesh.  It  pain'd  cruelly,  but  1 
shut  my  teeth :  and  after  that  came  the  smart  and 
delicious  ache  of  water,  as  she  rinsed  the  wound. 

"  Clean  through  the  flesh,  lad  : — in  an'  out,  like 
country  dancin'.  No  bullet  to  probe  nor  bone  to  set. 
Heart  up,  soce  I  Thy  mother  shall  kiss  thee  yet. 
What's  thy  name  ? '' 

"  Marvel,  Joan — Jack  Marvel." 

"An'  marvel  'tis  thou'rt  Marvel  yet.  Good  blood 
there's  in  thee,  but  little  enow." 

She  bandaged  the  sore  with  linen  torn  from  my 
shirt,  and  tied  it  round  with  sack-cloth  from  her  own 
dress.  'Twas  all  most  gently  done :  and  then  I  found 
her  arms  under  me,  and  myself  lifted  as  easy  as  a 
baby. 

"  Left  arm  round  my  neck,  Jack :  an'  sing  out  if  'tis 
hurtin'  thee." 

It  seemed  but  six  steps  and  we  were  out  on  the 
bright  hillside,  not  fifty  paces  from  where  the  plough 
yet  stood  in  the  furrow.  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  a 
brown  neck  and  a  pair  of  firm  red  lips,  of  the  grey  tor 
stretching  above  us  and,  further  aloft,  a  flock  of  field- 
fare hanging  in  the  pale  sky ;  and  then  shut  my  eyes 
for  the  dazzle :  but  could  still  feel  the  beat  of  Joan's 


I    RIDE    DOWN    INTO    TEMPLE.  185 

heart  as  she  held  me  closCj  and  the  touch  of  her  breath 
on  my  forehead. 

Down  the  hill  she  carried  me,  picking  the  softest 
turf,  and  moving-  with  an  easeful  swing  that  rather 
lull'd  my  hurt  than  jolted  it.  I  was  dozing,  even, 
when  a  strange  noise  awoke  me. 

'Twas  a  high  protracted  note,  that  seemM  at  first  to 
swell  up  towards  us,  and  then  broke  off  in  half-a-dozen  or 
more  sharp  yells.  Joan  took  no  heed  of  them,  but  seeing 
my  eyes  unclose,  and  hearing  me  moan,  stopped  short. 

"  Hurts  thee,  lad  ?  " 

*'  No.^'  'Twas  not  my  pain  but  the  sight  of  the 
sinking  sun  that  wrung  the  exclamation  from  me — "  I 
was  thinking,'^  I  muttered. 

"Don't:  'tis  bad  for  health.  But  bide  thee  still 
a-while,  and  shalt  lie  'pon  a  soft  bed.'' 

By  this  time,  we  had  come  down  to  the  road :  and 
the  yells  were  still  going  on,  louder  than  ever.  We 
cross'd  the  road,  descended  another  slope,  and  came  all 
at  once  on  a  low  pile  of  buildings  that  a  moment  before 
had  been  hid.  'Twas  but  three  hovels  of  mud,  stuck 
together  in  the  shape  of  a  headless  cross,  the  main  arm 
pointing  out  towards  the  moor.  Around  the  whole  ran 
a  battered  wall,  patched  with  furze ;  and  from  this 
dwelling  the  screams  were  issuing — . 


1H6  THE    SPLENDID   SPUR. 

"  Joan  !  "  the  voice  began,  "  Joan — Jan  Tergagle's 
a-clawin'  my  legs — Gar-rout,  thou  hell-eat — Blast  thee, 
let  me  zog  !     Pull'n  off  Joan — Jo-an  1 " 

The  voice  died  away  into  a  wail  ;  then  bri)ke  out  in 
a  racket  of  curses.  Jt;au  stei)ped  to  the  door  and  flung  it 
wide.  As  my  eyes  grew  used  to  the  gloom  inside,  they 
saw  this  : — 

A  rude  kitchen — the  furniture  but  two  rickety 
chairs,  now  tossM  on  their  faces,  an  oak  table,  with 
legs  sunk  into  the  earth,  a  keg  of  strong  waters,  tilted 
over  and  draining  upon  the  mud  floor,  a  ladder  lead- 
ing up  to  a  loft,  and  in  two  of  the  corners  a  few 
bundles  of  bracken  strewn  for  bedding.  To  the  left, 
as  one  entered,  was  an  open  hearth ;  but  the  glow- 
ing peat-turves  were  now  pitch'd  to  right  and  left 
over  the  hearth-stone  and  about  the  floor,  where 
they  rested,  111  ling  the  den  with  smuke.  Under  one  of 
the  cliairs  a  black  cat  sj)at  and  bristled :  while  in  the 
middle  (jf  the  room,  bare-footed  in  the  embers,  crouched 
a  man.  lie  was  half-naked,  old  and  bent,  with 
matted  grey  hair  and  beard  hanging  almost  to  hie 
v/aist.  His  chest  and  legs  were  bleeding  from  a  score 
of  scratches;  and  he  pointed  at  the  eat,  opening  and 
shutting  his  mouth  like  a  dog,  and  barking  out  curse 
upon  curse. 


I   EIDE    DOWN    INTO    TEMPLE.  18? 

No  way  upset,  Joan  stepped  across  the  kitchen,  laid 
me  on  one  of  the  bracken  beds,  and  explained — 

"  That's  feyther  :  he's  drunk/' 

With  which  she  turn'd,  dealt  the  old  man  a  cuff 
that  stretched  him  senseless,  and  gathering  up  the 
turves,  piled  them  afresh  on  the  hearth.  This  done, 
she  took  the  keg  and  gave  me  a  drink  of  it.  The  stuff 
scalded  me,  but  I  thanked  her.  And  then,  when  she 
had  shifted  my  bed  a  bit,  to  ease  the  pain  of  lying,  she 
righted  a  chair,  drew  it  up  and  sat  beside  me.  The  old 
man  lay  like  a  log  where  he  had  fallen,  and  was  now 
snoring.  Presently,  the  fumes  of  the  liquor,  or  mere 
faintness,  mastered  me,  and  my  eyes  closed.  But  the 
picture  they  closed  upon  was  that  of  Joan,  as  she  leant 
forward,  chin  on  hand,  with  the  glow  of  the  fire  on  her 
brown  skin  and  in  the  depths  of  her  dark  eyes. 


188 


CHAPTER    XII. 

HOW    JOAN    SAVED    THE    AKMY    OF   THE    WEST  ;     AND    SAW 
THE    FIGHT    ON    BRADDOCK    DOWN. 

But  the  pain  of  my  hurt  followed  into  my  dreams.  I 
woke  with  a  start,  and  tried  to  sit  up. 

Within  the  kitchen  all  was  quiet.  The  old  savage 
was  still  stretched  on  the  flour :  the  eat  curled  upon  the 
hearth.  The  girl  had  not  stirr'd  :  but  looking  towards 
the  window-hole,  I  saw  night  outside,  and  a  frosty  star 
sparkling  far  down  in  the  west. 

"  Joan,  what^s  the  hour  ?  '' 

"  Sun's  been  down  these  four  hours.*'  She  turned 
her  face  to  look  at  me. 

*'  I've  no  business  lying  here." 

"  Chose  to  come,  lad  :  none  axed  thee,  that  /  knows 
by." 

"  Where's  the  mare  ?  Must  set  me  across  her  back, 
Joan,  and  let  me  ride  on." 

"  Mare's  in  stable,  wi'  fetlocks  swelled  like  puddens. 
Chose  to  come,  lad;  an'  chouse  or  no,  must  bide." 

*"Tis  fur  the  General  Huptun,  at  Btxlmiu,  I  am 
bound,  Joan;  and  wound  or  no,  must  win  there  this 
night." 


HOW  JOAN  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST.    189 

"  And  that's  seven  mile  away  :  wV  a  bullet  in  thy 
skull,  and  a  peat-quag  thy  burial.  For  tAe^  went  south, 
and  thy  road  lieth  more  south  than  west/' 

"  The  troopers  ?  " 

''  Aye,  Jack  :  an'  work  I  had  this  day  wi'  those 
same  bloody  warriors  :  but  take  a  sup  at  the  keg,  and 
bite  this  manchet  of  oat-cake  while  I  tell  thee." 

And  so,  having  fed  me,  and  set  my  bed  straight,  she 
sat  on  the  floor  beside  me  (for  the  better  hearing),  and 
in  her  uncouth  tongue,  told  how  I  had  been  saved.  I 
cannot  write  her  language ;  but  the  tale,  in  sum,  was 
this : — 

When  I  dropt  forward  into  her  arms,  Joan  for  a 
moment  was  taken  aback,  thinking  me  dead.  But  (to 
quote  her)  " '  no  good,'  said  I,  '  in  cuddlin'  a  lad  'pon 
the  hill-side,  for  folks  to  see,  tho'  he  Aave  a-got  curls 
like  a  wench:  an'  dead  or  'live,  no  use  to  wait  for  others 
to  make  sure.'  " 

So  she  lifted  and  carried  me  to  a  spot  hard  by,  that 
she  called  the  "  Jewr's  Kitchen ; "  and  where  that  was, 
even  with  such  bearings  as  I  had,  she  defied  me  to  dis- 
cover. There  was  no  time  to  tend  me,  whilst  Molly 
stood  near  to  show  my  whereabouts  :  so  she  let  me  lie, 
and  went  to  lead  the  sorrel  down  to  stable. 

Her  hand  was  on  the  bridle  when  she  heard  a  Whoop! 


190  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

up  the  road  ;  and  there  were  half-a-dozen  riders  on  the 
crest,  and  tearing  down-hill  towards  her.  Joan  had 
nothing  left  but  to  feign  coolness,  and  went  on  leading 
the  mare  down  the  slope. 

In  a  while,  up  comes  the  foremost  trooper,  draws 
rein,  and  pants  out  "  Where's  he  to  ?  " 

"  Who  ?  "  asks  Joan,  making  out  to  be  surprised. 

"  Why,  the  lad  whose  mare  thou'rt  lead  in'  ?  " 

"  Mile  an'  half  away  by  now." 

"How's  that?" 

"  Freshly  horsed,"  explains  Joan. 

The  troopers — they  were  all  around  her  by  this — 
swore  'twas  a  lie ;  but  luckily,  being  down  in  the 
hollow,  could  not  see  over  the  next  ridge.  They  began 
a  stiing  of  questions  all  together  :  but  at  last  a  little 
tun-bellied  sergeant  call'd  "  Silence  I "  and  asked  the 
girl,  "  did  she  loan  the  fellow  a  horse  ?  " 

Here  I  will  quote  her  again : — 

"  'Sir,  to  thee,'  I  answer'd,  '  no  loan  at  all,  but  fair 
swap  for  our  Grey  Robin.' 

"'That's  a  lie,'  he  says;  'an'  I  won't  believe 
thee.' 

" '  Might  so  well,*  says  I ;  '  but  go  to  stable,  an'  see 
for  thysel'.'  (Never  had  grey  horse  to  my  name,  Jack  ; 
but,  thinks  I,  that's  /lis'ti  lookout.)" 


HOW   JOAN    SAVED   THE    ARMY    OF   THE    WEST.        191 

They  went,  did  these  simple  troopers,  to  look  at 
the  stable,  and  sure  enough,  there  was  no  Grey  Robin. 
Nevertheless,  some  amongst  them  had  logic  enough  to 
take  this  as  something  less  than  proof  convincing,  and 
spent  three  hours  and  more  ransacking  the  house  and 
barn,  and  searching  the  tor  and  the  moors  below  it.  I 
learnt  too,  that  Joan  had  come  in  for  some  rough  talk — 
to  which  she  put  a  stop,  as  she  told  me,  by  offering  to 
fight  any  man  Jack  of  them  for  the  buttons  on  his  buff 
coat.  And  at  length,  about  sundown,  they  gave  up  the 
hunt,  and  rode  away  over  the  moors  towards  Warleggan, 
having  (as  the  girl  heard  them  say)  to  be  at  Braddock 
before  night. 

"  Where  is  this  Braddock  ?  " 

"  Nigh  to  Lord  Mohun's  house  at  Boconnoc  :  seven 
mile  away  to  the  south,  and  seven  mile  or  so  from 
Bodmin,  as  a  crow  flies.'* 

"  Then  go  I  must,''  cried  I :  and  hereupon  I  broke 
out  with  all  the  trouble  that  was  on  my  mind,  and  the 
instant  need  to  save  these  gallant  gentlemen  of  Corn- 
wall, ere  two  armies  should  combine  against  them.  I  told 
of  the  King's  letter  in  my  breast,  and  how  1  found  the 
Lord  Stamford's  men  at  Launceston  ;  how  that  Ruthen, 
with  the  vanguard  of  the  rebels,  was  now  at  Liskeard, 
with  but  a  bare  day's  march  between  the  two,  and  none 


192  THE    SPLENDID    SPUK. 

but  I  to  carry  the  warning.  And  "Oh,  Joan  I "  I  cried, 
"  my  comrade  I  left  upon  the  road.  Brighter  courage 
and  truer  heart  never  man  proved,  and  yet  left  by  me  in 
the  rebels'  hands.  Alas  !  that  I  could  neither  save  nor 
help,  but  must  still  ride  on :  and  here  is  the  issue — to 
lie  struck  down  within  ten  mile  of  my  goal — I,  that 
have  travelled  two  hundred.  And  if  the  Cornish  men  be 
not  warned  to  give  fight  before  Lord  Stamford  come 
up,  all's  lost.  Even  now  they  be  out-numberM.  So 
lift  me,  Joan,  and  set  me  astride  Molly,  and  I'll  win  to 
Bodmin  yet/' 

"  Reckon,  Jack,  thou'd  best  hand  me  thy  letter." 

Now,  I  did  not  at  once  catch  the  intent  of  these 
words,  80  simply  spoken ;  but  stared  at  her  like  an 
owl. 

"  There's  horse  in  stall,  lad,"  she  went  on,  "  tho' 
no  Grey  Robin.  Tearaway's  the  name,  and  strawberry 
the  colour." 

"  But,  Joan,  Joan,  if  you  do  this — feel  inside  my 
coat  here,  to  the  left — you  will  save  an  artny,  girl,  may- 
be a  throne!  Here  'tis,  Joan,  see — no,  not  that — here! 
Say  the  seal  is  that  of  the  Governor  of  Bristol,  who 
stole  it  from  me  for  a  while  :  but  the  handwriting-  will 
be  known  for  the  King's :  and  no  hand  but  yours  must 
touch  it  till  you  stand  before  Sir  Ralph   Hopton.     The 


HOW  JOAN  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OP  THE  WEST.   19S 

KiDg-  shall  thank  you,  Joan;  and  God  will  bless  you 
for't." 

"  Hope  so,  I'm  sure.  But  lam  me  what  to  say,  lad: 
for  I  be  main  thick-witted/' 

So  I  told  her  the  message  over  and  over,  till  she  had 
it  by  heart. 

"  Shan't  f orgit,  now,"  she  said,  at  length ;  "  an'  so 
hearken  to  me  for  a  change.  Bide  still,  nor  fret  thy- 
sel'.  Here's  pasty  an'  oat-cake,  an'  a  keg  o'  water  that 
I'll  stow  beside  thee.  Pay  no  heed  to  feyther,  an'  if  he 
wills  to  get  drunk  an'  fight  wi'  Jan  Tergagle — that's 
the  cat — why,  let'n.     Drunk  or  sober,  he's  no  'count." 

She  hid  the  letter  in  her  bosom,  and  stepp'd  to  the 
door.     On  the  threshold  she  turned — 

"  Jack — forgot  to  ax :  what  be  all  this  bloodshed 
about?" 

"  For  Church  and  King,  Joan." 

"  H'm :  same  knowledge  ha'  I  o'  both — an'  thaf  s 
naught.     But  I  dearly  loves  fair  play." 

She  was  gone.  In  a  minute  or  so  I  heard  the  tram- 
pling of  a  horse :  and  then,  with  a  scurry  of  hoofs,  Joan 
was  off  on  the  King's  errand,  and  riding  into  the  dark- 
ness. 

Little  rest  had  I  that  night ;  but  lay  awake  on  my 
bracken  bed  and  watched  the  burning  peat-turves  turn 


194  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR, 

to  grey,  and  drop,  flake  by  flake,  till  only  a  glowing 
point  remained.  The  door  rattled  now  and  then  on  the 
hinge  :  out  on  the  moor  the  light  winds  kept  a  noise 
persistent  as  town  dogs  at  midnight :  and  all  the  while 
my  wound  was  stabbing,  and  the  bracken  pricking  me 
till  I  groaned  aloud. 

As  day  began  to  break,  the  old  man  picked  himself 
up,  yawned  and  lounged  out,  returning  after  a  time 
with  fresh  turves  for  the  hearth.  He  noticed  me  no 
more  than  a  stone,  but  when  the  fire  was  re-stack^d, 
drew  up  his  chair  to  the  warmth,  and  breakfasted  on 
oat-cake  and  a  liberal  deal  of  liquor.  Observing  him, 
the  black  cat  uncoilM,  stretchM  himself,  and  climbing 
to  his  master's  knee,  sat  there  purring,  and  the  best  of 
friends.  I  also  judged  it  time  to  breakfast :  found  my 
store :  took  a  bite  or  two,  and  a  pull  at  the  keg,  and  lay 
back — this  time  to  sleep. 

When  I  woke,  'twas  high  noon.  The  door  stood 
open,  and  outside  on  the  wall  the  winter  sunshine  was 
lying,  very  bright  and  clear.  Indoors,  the  old  savage 
had  been  drinking  steadily ;  and  still  sat  before  the  fire, 
with  the  cat  on  one  knee,  and  his  keg  on  the  other.  I 
sat  up  and  strain'd  my  ears.  Surely,  if  Joan  had  not 
failed,  the  royal  generals  would  march  out  and  give 
battle  at  once  :    and  surely,  if  they  were  fighting,  not 


HOW  JOAN  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST.   195 

ten  miles  away,  some  sound  of  it  would  reach  me.  But 
beyond  the  purring  of  the  eat,  I  heard  nothing. 

I  crawl'd  to  my  feet,  rested  a  moment  to  stay  the 
giddiness,  and  totterM  across  to  the  door,  where  I  leant, 
listening  and  gazing  south.  No  strip  of  vapour  lay  on 
the  moors  that  stretchM — all  bathed  in  the  most  won- 
derful bright  colours — to  the  lip  of  the  horizon.  The  air 
was  like  a  sounding-board.  I  heard  the  bleat  of  an  old 
wether,  a  mile  off,  upon  the  tors;  and  was  turning  away 
dejected,  when,  far  down  in  the  south,  there  ran  a  sound 
that  set  my  heart  leaping. 

'Twas  the  crackling  of  musketry. 

There  was  no  mistaking  it.  The  noise  ran  like  wild- 
fire along  the  hills  :  before  echo  could  overtake  it,  a  low 
rumbling  followed,  and  then  the  brisker  crackling  again. 
I  caught  at  the  door-post  and  cried,  faint  with  the  sudden 

joy— 

"  Thou  angel,  Joan  ! — thou  angel  I  '* 

And  then,  as  something  took  me  by  the  throat — 
''  Joan,  Joan — to  see  what  thou  seest  I  " 

A  long  time  I  leant  by  the  door-post  there,  drinking 
in  the  sound  that  now  was  renewed  at  quicker  intervals. 
Yet,  for  as  far  as  I  could  see,  ^twas  the  peacefullest 
scene,  though  dreary — quiet  sunshine  on  the  hills,  and 
the  sheep  dotted  here  and  there,  cropping.  But  down 
N  2 


196  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

yonder,  over  the  edge  of  the  moors,  men  were  fig"hting 
»nd  murdering  each  other :  and  I  yearn'd  to  see  how 
the  day  went. 

Being  both  weak  and  loth  to  miss  a  sound  of  it,  1 
■ank  down  on  the  threshold,  and  there  lay,  with  my 
eyes  turned  southward,  through  a  gap  in  the  stone 
fence.  In  a  while  the  musketry  died  away,  and  I 
wondered :  but  thought  I  could  still  at  times  mark  a 
low  sound  as  of  men  shouting,  and  this,  as  I  learnt 
*fter,  was  the  true  battle. 

It  must  have  been  an  hour  or  more  before  I  saw  a 
number  of  black  specks  coming  over  the  ridge  of  hills, 
and  swarming  down  into  the  plain  towards  me  :  and 
then  a  denser  body  following.  'Twas  a  company  of 
horse,  moving  at  a  great  pace :  and  I  guessed  that  the 
battle  was  done,  and  these  were  the  first  fugitives  of  the 
beaten  army. 

On  they  came,  in  great  disorder,  scattering  as  they 
advanced  :  and  now,  in  parts,  the  hill  behind  was  black 
with  footmen,  running.  'Twas  a  rout,  sure  enough. 
Once  or  twice,  on  the  heights,  I  heard  a  bugle  blown, 
as  if  to  rally  the  crowd:  but  saw  nothing  come  of  it,  and 
presently  the  notes  ceased,  or  I  forgot  to  Usten. 

The  foremost  company  of  horse  was  heading  rather 
to  the  eastward  of  me,  to  gain  the  high-road ;  and  tha 


HOW  JOAN  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST.    197 

gross  passed  me  by  at  half -a- mile's  distance.  But  some 
came  nearer,  and  to  my  extreme  joy,  I  learnt  from  their 
arras  and  shouting,  what  till  now  I  had  been  eagerly 
hoping,  that  'twas  the  rebel  army  thus  running  in  rout : 
and  tho'  now  without  strength  to  kneel,  I  had  enough 
left  to  thank  God  heartily. 

'Twas  so  curious  to  see  the  plain  thus  suddenly 
filVd  with  rabble,  all  running  from  the  south,  and  the 
silly  startled  sheep  rushing  helter-skelter,  and  huddling 
together  on  the  tors  above,  that  I  forgot  my  own  likely 
danger  if  any  of  this  revengeful  crew  should  come  upon 
me  lying  there:  and  was  satisfied  to  watch'them  as  they 
straggled  over  the  moors  towards  the  road.  Some  passM 
close  to  the  cottage ;  but  none  seem'd  anxious  to  pause 
there.  'Twas  a  glad  and  a  sorry  sight.  I  saw  a  troop  of 
dragoons  with  a  standard  in  their  midst;  and  a  drummer 
running  behind,  too  far  distracted  even  to  cast  his  drum 
away,  so  that  it  dangled  against  his  back,  with  a  great 
rent  where  the  music  had  been ;  and  then  two  troopers 
running  together ;  and  one  that  was  wounded  lay  down 
for  a  while  within  a  stone's-throw  of  me,  and  would  not 
go  further,  till  at  last  his  comrade  persuaded  him  ;  and 
after  them  a  larger  company,  in  midst  of  whom  was  a 
man  crying,  "  We  are  sold,  I  tell  ye,  and  I  can  point  to 
the  man ! "  and  so  passed  by.     There  were  some,  too, 


198  THE    SPLENDID   SPUB. 

that  were  g-alloping  three  stout  horses  in  a  carriage,  and 
upon  it  a  brass  twelve-pounder.  But  the  carriage  stuck 
fast  in  a  quag,  and  so  they  cut  the  traces  and  left  it 
there,  where,  two  days  after,  Sir  John  Berkeley's  dragoons 
found  and  pulled  it  out.  And  this  was  the  fourth,  I  have 
heard,  that  the  King's  troops  took  in  that  victory. 

Yet  there  were  not  above  five  or  six  hundred  in  all 
that  I  saw ;  and  I  guessed  (as  was  the  case)  that  this 
must  be  but  an  off-shoot,  so  to  say,  of  the  bigger  rout 
that  pass'd  eastward  through  Liskeard.  I  was  thinking 
of  this  when  I  heard  footsteps  near,  and  a  man  came 
panting  through  a  gap  in  the  wall,  into  the  yard. 

He  was  a  big,  bare-headed  fellow,  exceedingly  flusht 
with  running,  but  unhurt,  as  far  as  I  could  see.  In- 
deed, he  might  easily  have  kill'd  me,  and  for  a  moment 
I  thought  sure  he  would.  But  catching  sight  of  me, 
he  nodded  very  friendly,  and  sitting  on  a  heap  of  stones 
a  yard  or  two  away,  began  to  draw  off  his  boot,  and 
search  for  a  prickle,  that  it  seem'd  had  got  into  it. 

"  'Tis  a  mess  of  it,  yonder,"  said  he,  quietly,  and 
jerk'd  his  thumb  over  his  shoulder. 

By  the  look  of  me,  he  could  tell  I  was  on  the  other 
■ide ;  but  this  did  not  appear  to  concern  him. 

"  How  has  it  gone  ?  "  asked  I. 

"  Well,"  says  he,  with  his  nos«  in  the  boot ;  "  w« 


HOW  JOAN  SAVED  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  WEST.    199 

had  a  pretty  rising  ground,  and  the  Cornishmen  march'd 
up  and  whipt  us  out — that's  all — and  took  a  mort  o' 
prisoners."  He  found  the  prickle,  drew  on  his  boot 
again,  and  asked — 

"T'other  side?" 

I  nodded. 

"  That's  the  laughing  side,  this  day.    Good  evening." 

And  with  that  he  went  off  as  fast  as  he  came. 

'Twas,  maybe,  an  hour  after,  that  another  came  in 
through  the  same  gap :  this  time  a  lean,  hawk-eyed 
man,  with  a  pincht  face  and  two  ugly  gashes — one 
across  the  brow  from  left  eye  to  the  roots  of  his  hair, 
the  other  in  his  leg  below  the  knee,  that  had  sliced 
through  boot  and  flesh  like  a  scythe-cut.  His  face  was 
smear'd  Avith  blood,  and  he  carried  a  musket. 

"  Water  ! "  he  bark'd  out  as  he  came  trailing  into 
the  yard.     "  Give  me  water — I'm  a  dead  man  !  " 

He  was  stepping  over  me  to  enter  the  kitchen,  when 
he  halted  and  said — 

"  Art  a  malignant,  for  certain  1 " 

And  before  I  had  a  chance  to  reply,  his  musket  was 
swung  up,  and  I  felt  my  time  was  come  to  die. 

But  now  the  old  savage,  that  had  been  sitting  all 
day  before  his  fire,  without  so  much  as  a  sign  to  show 
if  he  noticed  aught  that  was  passing,  jump'd  up  with  a 


iUO  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

yell  and  leapt  towards  us.  He  and  tlie  cat  were  on  the 
poor  wretch  tofj^ether,  tearing-  and  clawing,  I  can  hear 
their  hellish  outcries  to  this  day  :  but  at  the  moment 
they  turn'd  me  faint.  And  the  next  thing  I  recall  is 
being  dragged  inside  by  the  old  man,  who  shut  the 
door  after  me  and  slippM  the  bolt,  leaving  the  wounded 
trooper  on  the  other  side.  He  beat  against  it  for  some 
time,  sobbing  piteously  for  water  :  and  then  I  heard 
him  groaning  at  intervals,  till  he  died.  At  least,  the 
groans  ceased  ;  and  next  day  he  was  found  with  his  back 
against  the  cottage  wall,  stark  and  dead. 

Having  pulled  me  inside,  Joan's  father  must  have 
thought  he  had  done  enough :  for  on  the  floor  I  lay  tor 
hours,  and  passed  from  one  swoon  into  another.  He  and 
the  cat  had  gone  back  to  the  fire  again,  and  long  before 
evening  both  were  sound  asleep. 

So  there  I  lay  helpless,  till,  at  nightfall,  there  came 
the  trampling  of  a  horse  outside,  and  then  a  rap  on  the 
door.  The  old  man  started  up  and  opened  it :  and  in 
rushed  Joan,  her  eyes  lit  up,  her  breast  heaving,  and  in 
her  hand  a  naked  sword. 

"  Church  and  King,  Jack  I  "  she  cried,  and  flung  the 
blade  with  a  clang  on  to  the  table.  "  Church  and  King  I 
O  brave  day*s  work,  lad — O  bloody  work  this  day  !  " 

And  I  swooned  again. 


201 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

I    Btrr   A    LOOKING-GLASS    AT     BODMIN     FAIE  :     AND    MBET 
WITH    MR.    HANNIBAL   TINGCOMB. 

There  had,  indeed,  been  brave  work  on  Braddock  Down 
that  19th  of  January.  For  Sir  Ralph  Hopton  with  the 
Cornish  grandees  had  made  short  business  of  Ruthen's 
army — driving"  it  headlong  back  on  Liskeard  at  the  first 
charge,  chasing  it  through  that  town,  and  taking  1.200 
prisoners  (including  Sir  Shilston  Calmady),  together 
with  many  colours,  all  the  rebel  ordnance  and  ammu- 
nition, and  most  of  their  arms.  At  Liskeard,  after  refresh- 
ing their  men,  and  holding  next  day  a  solemn  thanks- 
giving to  God,  they  divided — the  Lord  Mohun  with  Sir 
Ralph  Hopton  and  Colonel  Godolphin  marching  with 
the  greater  part  of  the  army  upon  Saltash,  whither 
Ruthen  had  fled  and  was  entrenching  himself;  while 
Sir  John  Berkeley  and  Colonel  Ashburnham,  with  a 
small  party  of  horse  and  dragoons  and  the  voluntary 
regiments  of  Sir  Bevill  Grenville,  Sir  Nich.  Slanning, 
and  Colonel  Trevanion,  turned  to  the  north-east,  towards 
Launceston  and    Tavistock,  to  see  what  account  they 


202  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

might  render  of  the  Earl  of  Stamford's  army  :  that, 
however,  had  no  stomach  to  await  them,  but  posted  out 
of  the  county  into  Plymouth  and  Exeter. 

'Twas  on  this  expedition  that  two  or  three  of  the 
captains  I  have  mentioned  halted  for  an  hour  or  rnore  at 
Temple,  as  well  to  recognise  Joan's  extreme  meritorious 
service,  as  to  thank  me  for  the  part  I  had  in  bringing 
news  of  the  Earl  of  Stamford's  advance.  For  'twas 
this,  they  own'd,  had  saved  them — the  King's  mes- 
sage being  but  an  exhortation  and  an  advertisement 
upon  some  lesser  matters,  the  most  of  which  were 
already  taken    out   of   human    hands   by    the    turn    of 

events. 

But  though,  as  I  Icamt,  these  gentlemen  were  full 
of  compliments  and  professions  of  esteem,  I  neither  saw 
nor  heard  them,  being  by  this  time  delirious  of  a  high 
fever  that  followed  my  wound.  And  not  till  three  good 
weeks  after,  was  I  recover'd  enough  to  leave  my  bed, 
nor,  for  many  more,  did  my  full  strength  return  to  me. 
No  mother  could  have  made  a  tenderer  nurse  than  was 
Joan  throughout  this  time.  'Tis  to  her  I  owe  it  that  I 
am  alive  to  write  these  words :  and  if  the  tears  scald  my 
eyes  as  I  do  so,  you  will  pardon  them,  I  promise,  before 
the  end  of  my  tale  is  reach'd. 

In  the  first  days  of  my  recovery,  news  came  to  ub  (1 


I    BUY    A    LOOKING-GLASS    AT    BODMIN    FAIR.  20'i 

forget  how)  that  a  solemn  sacrament  had  been  taken 
between  the  parties  in  Devon  and  Cornwall,  and  the 
country  was  at  peace.  Little  I  cared,  at  the  time  :  but 
was  content — now  spring  was  come — to  loiter  about  the 
tors,  and  while  watching  Joan  at  her  work,  to  think 
upon  Delia.  For,  albeit  I  had  little  hope  to  see  her 
again,  my  late  pretty  comrade  held  my  thoughts  the 
day  long.  I  shared  them  with  nobody:  for  tho'  'tis 
probable  I  had  let  some  words  fall  in  my  delirium,  Joan 
never  hinted  at  this,  and  I  never  found  out. 

To  Joan's  company  I  was  left :  for  her  father,  after 
saving  my  life  that  afternoon,  took  no  further  notice 
of  me  by  word  or  deed;  and  the  cat,  Jan  Tergagle 
(nam'd  after  a  spirit  that  was  said  to  haunt  the  moors 
hereabouts),  was  as  indifferent.  So  with  Joan  I  passed 
the  days  idly,  tending  the  sheep,  or  waiting  on  her  as 
she  ploughed,  or  lying  full  length  on  the  hill-side  and 
talking  with  her  of  war  and  battles.  'Twas  the  one 
topic  on  which  she  was  curious  (scoffing  at  me  when  I 
offered  to  teach  her  to  read  print),  and  for  hours  she 
would  listen  to  stories  of  Alexander  and  Hannibal, 
Csesar  and  Joan  of  Arc,  and  other  great  commanders 
whose  history  I  remember'd. 

One  evening — 'twas  early  in  May — we  had  climb'd 
to  the  top  of  the  grey  tor  above  Temple,   whence  we 


i04  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

could  spy  the  white  sails  of  the  two  Channels  moving, 
and,  stretch'd  upon  the  short  turf  there,  I  was  telling 
my  usual  tale.  Joan  lay  beside  me,  her  chin  propp'd 
on  one  earth-stain'd  hand,  her  great  solemn  eyes  wide 
open  as  she  listened.  Till  that  moment  I  had  regarde<l 
her  rather  as  a  man-comrade  than  a  girl,  but  now  some 
feminine  trick  of  gesture  awoke  me  perhaps,  for  vay 
fancy  began  to  contrast  her  with  Delia,  and  I  broke 
oft'  my  story  and  sigh'd. 

**  Art  longing  to  be  hence  ?  "  she  asked. 

I  felt  a!?hamed  to  be  thus  caught,  and  was  silent 
She  look'd  at  me  and  went  on — 

"  Speak  out,  lad." 

"  Loth  would  I  be  to  leave  you,  Joan." 

"  And  why  ?  " 

'*  Why,  we   are  good  friends,   I   hope :    and  I  am 
grateful." 

"  Oh,    aye — wish   thee'd  learn   to   spc^ak   the  truth 
Jack.     Art  longing  to  be  hence,  and  shalt — soon." 

"  Why,   Joan,   you  would  not  have  me   dwell  hert 
always  ?  " 

She  made  no  answer  for  a  while,  and  then  with  a 
change  of  tone — 

"  Shalt  ride  wi*  me  to  Bodmin  Fair  to-morrow  for  a 
treat,  an'  see  the  Great  Turk  and  the  Fat  'Ooman  and 


I   BUT    A    LOOKING-GLASS    AT    BODMIN    FAIE.  205 

hocus-pocus.     So  tell  me  more  'bout  Joan  the  Freuch- 
woman/' 

On  the  morrow,  about  nine  in  the  morning,  we  set  off 
— Joan  on  the  strawberry,  balanced  easily  on  an  old  sack, 
which  was  all  her  saddle ;  and  I  on  Molly,  that  now  was 
sound  again  and  chafing  to  be  so  idle.  As  we  set  out, 
Joan's  father  for  the  first  time  took  some  notice  of  me, 
standing  at  the  door  to  see  us  off  and  shouting  after  us 
to  bring  home  some  account  of  the  wrestling.  Looking 
back  at  a  quarter-mile's  distance  I  saw  him  still  framed 
in  the  doorway,  with  the  cat  perch'd  on  his  shoulder. 

Bodmin  town  is  naught  but  a  narrow  street,  near  on 
a  mile  long,  and  widening  towards  the  western  end.  It 
lies  mainly  along  the  south  side  of  a  steep  vale,  and  this 
May  morning  as  Joan  and  I  left  the  moors  and  rode  down 
to  it  from  northward,  already  we  could  hear  trumpets 
blowing,  the  big  drum  sounding,  and  all  the  bawling 
voices  and  hubbub  of  the  fair.  Descending,  we  found 
the  long  street  lin'd  with  booths  and  shows,  and  nigh 
blocked  with  the  crowd :  for  the  revel  began  early  and 
was  now  in  full  swing.  And  the  crew  of  gipsies, 
whifflers,  mountebanks,  fortune-tellers,  cut-purses  and 
quacks,  mixt  up  with  honest  country  faces,  beat  even 
the  rabble  I  had  seen  at  Wantage. 


•206  THE   SPLENDID    SPUE. 

Now  my  own  first  business  was  with  a  tailor : 
for  the  clothes  I  wore  when  I  rode  into  Temple,  four 
montlis  back,  had  been  so  sadly  messed  with  blood,  and 
afterwards  cut,  to  free  them  from  my  wound,  that  now 
all  the  tunic  I  wore  was  of  sack-cloth,  contrived  and 
sticht  together  by  Joan.  So  I  made  at  once  for  a 
decent  shop,  where  luckily  I  found  a  suit  to  fit  me, 
one  taken  (the  tailor  said)  off  a  very  promising 
young  gentleman  that  had  the  misfortune  to  be  kilPd 
on  Braddock  Down.  Arrayed  in  this,  I  felt  myself 
again,  and  offered  to  take  Joan  to  see  the  Fat  Woman. 

We  saw  her,  and  the  -^thiop,  and  the  Rhinoceros 
(which  put  me  in  mind  of  poor  Anthony  Killigrew),  and 
the  Pig-fac'd  Baby,  and  the  Cudgel-play ;  and  presently 
halted  before  a  Cheap-Jack,  that  w^s  crying  his  wares 
in  a  prodigious  loud  voice,  near  the  town  wall. 

'Twas  a  meagre,  sharp-visag'd  fellow  with  a  grey 
chin-beard  like  a  billy-goat's;  and  (as  fortune  would 
have  it)  spying  our  approach,  he  picked  out  a  mirror 
from  his  stock  and  holding  it  aloft,  atldressed  us 
straight — 

"  What  have  we  here,"  cries  he,  "  but  a  pair  o' 
lovers  coming?  and  what  i*  my  hand  but  a  lover's  hour- 
glass ?  Sure  the  stars  of  heav'n  must  have  a  hand  in 
this  conjuncture — and    only  thirteen-pence,  my  pretty 


I    BUY    A    LOOKING-GLASS    AT    BODMIN    FAIE.  207 

fellow,  for  a  glass  that  will  tell  the  weather  i*  youi 
sweetheart's  face,  and  help  make  it  fine/' 

There  were  many  country-fellows  with  their  maids  in 
the  crowdj  that  turned  their  heads  at  this  address ;  and 
as  usual  the  women  began. 

"'Tis  Joan  o' the  Tor!" 

"  Joan's  picked  up  wi'  a  sweetheart — tee-hee  ! — an' 
us  reckoned  her'd  forsworn  mankind  I  " 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  Some  furriner,  sure  :  that  likes  garlick." 

"  He's  bought  her  no  ribbons  yet." 

"  How  should  he,  poor  lad ;  that  can  find  no  gar- 
ments upon  her  to  fasten  'em  to  ?  " 

And  so  on,  with  a  deal  of  spiteful  laughter.  Some 
of  these  sayings  were  half-truth,  no  doubt :  but  the 
truthfullest  word  may  be  infelix.  So  noting  a  dark 
flush  on  Joan's  cheek,  I  thought  to  end  the  scene  by 
taking  the  Cheap-Jack's  mirror  on  the  spot,  to  stop  his 
tongue,  and  then  drawing  her  away. 

But  in  this  I  was  a  moment  too  late  j  for  just  as  I 
reach'd  up  my  hand  with  the  thirteen-pence,  and  the 
grinning  fellow  on  the  platform  bent  forward  with  his 
mirror,  I  heard  a  coarser  jest,  a  rush  in  the  crowd,  and 
two  heads  go  crack  !  together  like  eggs.  'Twas  two  of 
Joan's  tormentors  she  had  taken  by  the  hair  and  served 


<08  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

80  :  and  dropping  them  the  next  instant  had  caught 
the  Cheap-Jack's  beard,  as  you  might  a  boll-rope,  and 
wrench 'd  him  head-foremost  off  his  stand,  my  thirteen- 
pence  flying  far  and  wide.  Phimp  he  fell  into  the 
crowd,  that  scattered  on  all  hands  as  Joan  pummelled 
him  :  and  whack,  whack  !  fell  the  blows  on  the  poor 
idiot's  face,  who  scream'd  for  mercy,  as  though  Judg- 
ment Day  were  come. 

No  one,  for  the  minute,  dared  to  step  between 
them  :  and  presently  Joan  looking  up,  with  arm  raised 
for  another  buffet,  spied  a  poor  Astrologer  close  by,  in  a 
red  and  yellow  gown,  that  had  been  reading  fortunes  in 
a  tub  of  black  water  beside  him,  but  was  now  broken 
off,  dismayed  at  the  hubbub.  To  this  tub  she  dragged 
the  Cheap-Jack  and  sent  him  into  it  with  a  round  souse. 
The  black  water  splashed  right  and  left  over  the  crowd. 
Then,  her  wrath  sated,  Joan  faced  the  rest,  with  hands 
on  hips,  and  waited  for  them  to  come  on. 

Not  a  word  had  she  spoken,  from  first  to  last :  but 
stood  now  with  hot  cheeks  and  bosom  heaving.  Then, 
finding  none  to  take  up  her  challenge,  she  strode  out 
through  the  folk,  and  I  aft^r  her,  with  the  mirror  in 
my  hand ;  while  the  Cheap-Jack  picked  himself  out  of 
the  tub,  whining,  and  the  Astrologer  wip'd  his  long 
white  beard  and  soil'd  robe. 


I   BUY    A    LOOKING-GLASS   AT    BODMIN    PAIB.  208 

Outside  the  throng  was  a  carriage,  stopped  for  a 
minute  by  this  tumult,  and  a  servant  at  the  horses^ 
heads.  By  the  look  of  it,  'twas  the  coach  of  some 
person  of  quality ;  and  glancing  at  it  I  saw  inside  an 
old  gentleman  with  a  grave  venerable  face,  seated.  For 
the  moment  it  flashed  on  me  I  had  seen  him  before, 
somewhere :  and  cudgelFd  my  wits  to  think  where  it 
had  been.  But  a  second  and  longer  gaze  assured  me  I 
was  mistaken,  and  I  went  on  down  the  street  after 
Joan. 

She  was  walking  fast  and  angry ;  nor  when  I  caught 
her  up  and  tried  to  soothe,  would  she  answer  me  but  in 
the  shortest  words.  Woman's  justice,  as  I  had  just 
learnt,  has  this  small  defect — it  goes  straight  enough, 
but  mainly  for  the  wrong  object.  Which  now  I  proved 
in  my  own  case. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Joan  ?  " 

"  To  '  Fifteen  Balls' '  stable,  for  my  horse." 
Art  not  leaving  the  fair  yet,  surely  ! " 
That  I  be,  tho\     Have  had  fairing  enow — wi*  a 
man ! " 

Nor  for  a  great  part  of  the  way  home  would  she 

speak  to  me.      But   meeting,    by   Pound   Scawens    (a 

hamlet  close  to  the  road),  with  some  friends  going  to 

the  fair,  she  stoppM  for  a   while  to  chat  with  them, 

o 


210  THE   SPLENDID    SPUR. 

whilst  I  rode  forward  :  and  when  she  overtook  me,  her 
brow  was  clear  again. 

"  Am  a  hot-headed  fool.  Jack,  and  have  spoilt  thy 
day  for  thee." 

"  Nay,  that  you  have  not,"  said  I,  heartily  glad  to 
see  her  humble,  for  the  first  time  in  our  acquaintance  : 
"  but  if  you  have  forgiven  me  that  which  I  could  not 
help,  you  shall  take  this  that  I  bought  for  you,  in 
proof." 

And  pulling  out  the  mirror,  I  leant  over  and  handed 
it  to  her. 

"  What  i'  the  world  be  this  ?  "  she  ask'd,  taking 
and  looking  at  it  doubtfully. 

"  Why,  a  mirror." 

"What's  that?" 

"  A  glass  to  see  your  face  in,"  I  explained. 

"  Be  this  my  face  ?  "  She  rode  forward,  holding  up 
the  glass  in  front  of  her.  "  Why,  what  a  handsome- 
looking  gal  I  be,  to  be  sure  !  Jack,  art  certain  'tia  my 
very  own  face  ?  " 

"To  be  sure,"  said  I  amazed. 

"  Well  I  "  There  was  silence  for  a  full  minute,  save 
for  our  horses'  tread  on  the  high-road.     And  then — 

'*  Jack,  I  be  powerful  dirty  1 " 

This  was  true  enough,  and  it  made  me  laugh.     Sh« 


I   BUT    A    LOOKING-GLASS    AT   BODMIN    PAIB.  211 

looked  up  solemnly  at  my  mirtli  (having  no  sense  of  a 
joke,  then  or  ever)  and  bent  forward  to  the  glass  again. 

"  By  the  way,"  said  I,  "  did  you  mark  a  carriage 
just  outside  the  crowd,  by  the  Cheap-Jack's  booth  ? — 
with  a  white-hairM  gentleman  seated  inside  ?  " 

Joan  nodded.  "  Master  Hannibal  Tingcomb  :  steward 
o'  Gleys.^' 

"What!" 

I  jumped  in  my  saddle,  and  with  a  pull  at  the  bridle 
brought  Molly  to  a  stand-still. 

"  Of  Gleys  ?  "  I  cried.  "  Steward  of  Sir  Deakin 
Killigrew  that  was  ?  " 

"  Right,  lad,  except  the  last  word.  '  That  is/ 
should'st  rather  say.'' 

"  Then  you  are  wrong,  Joan :  for  he's  dead  and 
buried,  these  five  months.  Where  is  this  house  of 
Gleys  ?  for  to-morrow  I  must  ride  there." 

"  'Tis  easy  found,  then :  for  it  stands  on  the  south 
coast  yonder,  and  no  house  near  it :  five  mile  from 
anywhere,  and  sixteen  from  Temple,  due  south.  Shall 
want  thee  afore  thou  startest.  Jack.  Dear,  now  I  who'd 
ha'  thought  I  was  so  dirty  ?  " 

The  cottage   door  stood  open  as  we  rode  into   the 
yard,  and  from  it  a  faint  smoke  came  curling,  with  a 
OS 


iii  THE    SPLENDID    SPUK. 

smell  of  peat.  Within  I  found  the  smouldMng  turvet 
scatterM  about  as  on  the  day  of  my  first  arrival,  and 
among  them  Joan's  father  stretched,  ftat  on  his  face  : 
only  this  time  the  cat  was  curl'd  up  quietly,  and  lying 
between  the  old  man's  shoulder-blades. 

"  Drunk  again,''  said  Joan  shortly. 

But  looking  more  narrowly,  I  marked  a  purplish 
stain  on  the  ground  by  the  old  man's  mouth,  and  turned 
him  softly  over. 

"  Joan,"  said  I,  "  he's  not  drunk — he's  dead  I  " 

She  stood  above  us  and  looked  down,  first  at  the 
corpse,  then  at  me,  without  speaking  for  a  time  :  at 
last — 

"  Then  I  reckon  he  may  so  well  be  buried." 

"  Girl,"  I  call'd  out,  being  shock*d  at  this  callous- 
ness, "  'tis  your  father — and  he  is  dead  !  " 

"  Why  that's  so,  lad  An  he  were  alive,  shouldn't 
trouble  thee  to  bury  'n." 

And  so,  before  night,  we  carried  him  up  to  the 
t)l(ak  tor-side,  and  dug  his  grave  there ;  the  black  cat 
following  us  to  look.  Five  feet  deep  we  laid  him,  hav- 
ing dug  down  to  solid  rock;  and  having  covered  him 
over,  went  silently  back  to  the  hovel.  Joan  had  not 
ghed  a  single  tear. 


S13 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

I   DO   NO    GOOD    IN    THE    HOUSE    OF    GLEYi. 

Veey  early  next  morning  I  awoke,  and  hearing  no 
sound  in  the  loft  above  (whither,  since  my  coming,  Joan 
had  carried  her  bed),  concluded  her  to  be  still  asleep. 
But  in  this  I  was  mistaken :  for  going  to  the  well  at 
the  back  to  wash,  I  found  her  there,  studying  her  face 
in  the  mirror. 

"  Luckily  met,  Jack,"  she  said,  when  I  was  cleansed 
and  freshly  glowing :  "  Now  fill  another  bucket  and 
sarve  me  the  same." 

"  Cannot  you  wash  yourself  ?  *'  I  ask'd,  as  I  did  so. 

"  Lost  the  knack,  I  reckon.  Stand  thee  so,  an' 
slush  the  water  over  me." 

"  But  your  clothes  I "  I  cried  out,  "  they'll  be  soaking 
wetl" 

"  Clothes  won't  be  worse  for  a  wash,  neither.  So 
slush  away." 

Therefore,  standing  at  three  paces'  distance,  I  sent  a 
bucketful  over  her,  and  then  another  and  another.  Six 
times  I  filled  and  emptied  the  bucket  in  all :  and  at  the 


iJl4  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

end  she  was  satisfied,  and  went,  dripping',  back  to  the 
kitchen  to  get  me  my  breakfast. 

"  Art  early  abroad,^'  she  said,  as  we  sat  together  over 
the  meal. 

**  Yes,  for  I  must  ride  to  Gleys  this  morning.'* 

"  Shan't  be  sorry  to  miss  thee  for  a  while.  Makes 
oie  feel  so  shy — this  cleanliness."  So,  promising  to  bo 
back  by  nightfall,  I  went  presently  to  saddle  Molly  : 
and  following  Joan's  directions  and  her  warnings 
against  quags  and  pitfalls,  was  soon  riding  south 
across  the  moor  and  well  on  my  road  to  the  House  of 
Gleys. 

My  way  leading  me  by  Braddock  Down,  I  turned 
aside  for  a  while  to  examine  the  ground  of  the  late 
fight  (tho*  by  now  little  was  to  be  seen  but  a  piece 
of  earthwork  left  unfinisht  by  the  rebels,  and  the 
fresh  mounds  where  the  dead  were  laid)  ;  and  so  'twas 
high  noon — and  a  dull,  cheerless  day — before  the  hills 
broke  and  let  me  have  sight  of  the  sea.  Nor,  till  the 
noise  of  the  surf  was  in  my  ears,  did  I  mark  the 
chimneys  and  naked  grey  walls  of  the  house  I  was 
bound  for. 

'Twas  a  gloomy,  savage  pile  of  granite,  perch'd 
at  the  extremity  of  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  where 
every  wind  might   sweep    it,   and    the   waves    beat    on 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  GLETS.     215 

three  sides  the  cliff  below.  The  tide  was  now  at 
the  full,  almost,  and  the  spray  flying  in  my  face, 
as  we  crossed  the  head  of  a  small  beach,  forded  a 
stream,  and  scrambled  up  the  rough  road  to  the  en- 
trance gate. 

A  thin  line  of  smoke  blown  level  from  one  chimney 
was  all  the  sign  of  life  in  the  building :  for  the  narrow 
lights  of  the  upper  storey  were  mostly  shuttered,  and  the 
lower  floor  was  hid  from  me  by  a  high  wall  enclosing  a 
courtlage  in  front.  One  stunted  ash,  with  boughs  tor- 
tured and  bent  towards  the  mainland,  stood  by  the  gate, 
which  was  lockM.  A  smaller  door,  also  lockM,  was  let 
into  the  gate,  and  in  this  again  a  shuttered  iron  grating. 
Hard  by,  dangled  a  rusty  bell-pull,  at  which  I  tugg'd 
sturdily. 

On  this,  a  crackM  bell  sounded,  far  in  the  house,  and 
scared  a  flock  of  starlings  out  of  a  disusM  chimney. 
Their  cries  died  away  presently,  and  left  no  sound  but 
that  of  the  gulls  wailing  about  the  cliff  at  my  feet. 
This  was  all  the  answer  I  won. 

I  rang  again,  and  a  third  time  :  and  now  at  last 
came  the  sound  of  footsteps  shuffling  across  the  court 
within.  The  shutter  of  the  grating  was  slipt  back,  and 
a  voice,  cracked  as  the  bell,  asked  my  business. 

"  To  see  Master  Hannibal  Tingeomb,"  answered  I. 


216  THE    SPLENDID    SPUl. 

''Thy  name?" 

'*  He  shall  hear  it  in  time.  Say  that  I  come  on 
business  concerning  the  estate." 

The  voice  muttered  something,  and  the  footsteps 
went  back.  I  had  been  kicking  my  heels  there  for 
twenty  minutes  or  more  when  they  returned,  and  the 
voice  repeated  the  question — 

"Thy  name?" 

Being  by  this  time  angered,  I  did  a  foolish  thing; 
which  was,  to  clap  the  muzzle  of  my  pistol  against  the 
grating,  close  to  the  fellow's  nose.  Singular  to  say,  the 
trick  served  me.  A  bolt  was  slipt  hastily  back  and  the 
wicket  door  opened  stealthily. 

"  I  want,"  said  I,  "  room  for  my  horse  to  pass." 

Thereupon  more  grumbling  followed,  and  a  pro- 
digious creaking  of  bolts  and  chains ;  after  which  the 
big  gate  swung  stiffly  back. 

"  Sure,  you  must  be  worth  a  deal,"  I  said,  "  that 
shut  yourselves  in  so  careful" 

Before  me  stood  a  strange  fellow— extraordinary  old 
and  bent,  with  a  wizenM  face,  one  eye  only,  and  a  chin 
that  almost  touched  his  nose.  He  wore  a  dirty  suit  of 
livery,  that  once  had  been  canary -yellow ;  and  shook 
with  the  palsy. 

Master  Tingcomb  will  see  the  young  man,"   ie 


(( 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  GLEYS.    217 

aqueaVd,  nodding  his  head;  "but  is  a-reading  just 
now  in  his  Bible." 

"A  pretty  habit,"  answered  I,  leading  in  Molly— 
"  if  unseasonable.     But  why  not  have  said  so  ?  " 

He  seem'd  to  consider  this  for  a  while,  and  then  said 
abruptly — 

"  Have  some  pasty  and  some  good  cider  ?" 

"  Why  yes/'  I  said,  "  with  all  my  heart,  when 
I  have  stabled  the  sorrel  here." 

He  led  the  way  across  the  court,  well  paved  but 
choked  with  weeds,  towards  the  stable.  I  found  it  a 
spacious  building,  and  counted  sixteen  stalls  there ;  but 
all  were  empty  save  two,  where  stood  the  horses  I  had 
seen  in  Bodmin  the  day  before.  Having  stabled  Molly, 
I  left  the  place  (which  was  thick  with  cobwebs)  and  fol- 
lowed the  old  servant  into  the  house. 

He  took  me  into  a  great  stone  kitchen,  and  brought 
out  the  pasty  and  cider,  but  poured  out  half  a  glass 
only. 

"  Have  a  care,  young  man :  'tis  a  luscious,  thick, 
seductive  drink,"  and  he  chuckled. 

"  'Twould  turn  the  edge  of  a  knife,"  said  I,  tasting 
it  and  looking  at  him  :  but  his  one  blear'd  eye  was 
inscrutable.  The  pasty  also  was  mouldy,  and  I  soon 
laid  it  down. 


E18  THE    SPLENDID    8PUIU 

"  Hast  a  proud  stomach  that  cometh  of  faring 
somptuousl)'  :  the  beef  therein  is  our  own  killing,"  said 
he.  "  Young  sir,  art  a  man  of  blood,  I  greatly  fear,  by 
thy  long  sword  and  handiness  with  the  fire-arms/' 

"  Shall  be  presently,"  answered  I,  "  if  you  lead  me 
not  to  Master  Tiugcomb." 

He  scrambled  up  briskly  and  totter'd  out  of  the 
kitchen  into  a  stone  corridor,  I  after  him.  Along  this 
he  hurried,  muttering  all  the  way,  and  halted  before  a 
door  at  the  end.  Without  knocking  he  pushed  it  open, 
and  motioning  me  to  enter,  hastened  back  as  he  had 
come. 

"  Come  in,"  said  a  voice  that  seem'd  familiar  to 
me. 

Though,  as  you  know,  'twas  still  high  day,  in  the 
room  where  now  I  found  myself  was  every  appearance 
of  liight :  the  shutters  being  closed,  and  six  lighted 
candles  standing  on  the  table.  Behind  them  sat  the 
venerable  gentleman  whom  I  hud  seen  in  the  coach,  now 
wearing  a  plain  suit  of  black,  and  reading  in  a  great 
book  that  lay  open  on  the  table.  I  guessed  it  to  be  the 
Bible ;  but  noted  that  the  candies  had  shades  about 
them,  so  disposed  as  to  throw  the  light,  not  on  the  page, 
but  on  the  doorway  wliere  I  stood. 

Yet  the  old  gentleman,  having  bid  me  enter,  went 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  GLEYS.     219 

on  reading  for  a  while  as  though  wholly  unaware  of  me : 
which  I  found  somewhat  nettling,  so  began — 

"  I  speak,  I  believe,  to  Master  Hannibal  Tingcomb, 
steward  to  Sir  Deakin  Killigrew/' 

He  went  on,  as  if  ending  his  sentence  aloud : 

"...  And  my  darling  from  the  power  of  the 
dog.*'  Here  he  paused  with  finger  on  the  place  and 
looked  up.  "  Yes,  young  sir,  that  is  my  name — steward 
to  the  late  Sir  Deakin  Killigrew." 

"  The  late  ?  "  cried  I :  "  Then  you  know " 

'*  Surely  I  know  that  Sir  Deakin  is  dead  :  else 
should  I  be  but  an  unworthy  steward."  He  open'd  his 
grave  eyes  as  if  in  wonder. 

"  And  his  son,  also  ?  " 

"  Also  his  son  Anthony,  a  headstrong  boy,  I  fear 
me,  a  consorter  with  vile  characters.  Alas !  that  I 
should  say  it." 

"  And  his  daughter,  Mistress  Delia  ?  " 

"  Alas  I  '*  and  he  fetched  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Do  you  mean,  sir,  that  she  too  is  dead  I  " 

"  Why,  to  be  sure — but  let  us  talk  on  less  painful 
matters." 

"  In  one  moment,  sir  :  but  first  tell  me— where  did 
she  die,  and  when  ?  " 

For  my  heart  stood  still,  and  I  was  fain  to  clutch 


220  THE    SPLENDID    SPUB. 

the  table  between  us  to  keep  me  from  falling.  I  think 
this  did  not  escape  him,  for  he  gave  me  a  sharp  look, 
and  then  spoke  very  quiet  and  hush't. 

"  She   was   cruelly  killed   by  highwaymen,  at  the 
'  Three    Cups '   inn,    some    miles    out    of    Hungerford 
The  date  given  me  is  the  3rd  of  December  last/' 

With  this  a  great  rush  of  joy  came  over  me,  and  I 
blurted  out,  delighted — 

'*  There,  sir,  you  are  wrong !  Her  father  was  killed 
on  the  night  of  which  you  speak — cruelly  enough,  as 
you  say :  but  Mistress  Delia  Killigrew  escaped,  and 
after  the  most  incredible  adventures " 

I  was  expecting  him  to  start  up  with  joy  at  my 
announcement ;  but  instead  of  this,  he  gaz'd  at  me  very 
sorrowfully  and  shook  his  head ;  which  brought  me  to  a 
stand. 

"  Sir,"  I  said,  changing  my  tone,  "  I  speak  but 
what  I  know  :  for  'twas  I  had  the  happy  fortune  to 
help  her  to  escape,  and,  under  God's  hand,  to  bring 
her  safe  to  Cornwall." 

"  Then,  where  is  she  now  ?  ** 

Now  this  was  just  what  I  could  not  tell.  So,  stand- 
ing before  him,  I  gave  him  my  name  and  a  history  of 
all  my  adventures  in  my  dear  comrade's  company,  from 
the  hour  when  I  saw  her  first  in  the  inn  at  Hungerford. 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  GLEYS.    22 1 

Still  keeping  his  finger  on  the  page,  he  heard  me  to 
the  end  attentively,  but  with  a  curling  of  the  lips 
toward  the  close,  such  as  I  did  not  like.  And  when 
I  had  done,  to  my  amaze  he  spoke  out  sharply,  and  as 
if  to  a  whipt  schoolboy. 

"'Tis  a  cock-and-bull  story,  sir,  of  which  I  could 
hope  to  make  you  ashamed.  Six  weeks  in  your  com- 
pany ?  and  in  boy's  habit  ?  Surely  'twas  enough  the 
pure  unhappy  maid  should  be  dead — without  such  vile 
slander  on  her  fame,  and  from  you,  that  were  known, 
sir,  to  have  been  at  that  inn,  and  on  that  night,  with  her 
murderers.  Boy,  I  have  evidence  that,  taken  with  your 
confession,  would  weave  you  a  halter ;  and  am  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  Be  thankful,  then,  that  I  am  a  merciful 
man  :  yet  be  abasht.*' 

Abasht,  indeed,  I  was ;  or  at  least  taken  aback,  to 
see  his  holy  indignation  and  the  flush  on  his  waxen 
cheek.  Like  a  fool  I  stood  staggered,  and  wondered 
dimly  where  I  had  heard  that  thin  voice  before.  In  the 
confusion  of  my  senses  I  heard  it  say  solemnly — 

"  The  sins  of  her  fathers  have  overtaken  her,  as  the 
Book  of  Exodus  proclaimed :  therefore  is  her  inheritance 
wasted,  and  given  to  the  satyr  and  the  wild  ass." 

"  And  which  of  the  twain  be  you,  sir  ?  " 

I  cannot  tell  what  forced  this  violent  radeness  from 


Hi  THB    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

me,  for  he  seem'd  an  honest,  good  man ;  but  my  heart 
was  boiling  that  any  should  put  so  ill  a  construction  on 
my  Delia.  As  for  him,  he  had  risen,  and  was  moving 
with  dignity  to  the  door — to  show  me  out,  as  I  guess. 
When  suddenly  I,  that  had  been  staring  stupidly,  leapt 
upon  him  and  hurled  him  back  into  his  chair. 

For  I  had  marked  his  left  foot  trailing,  and,  by  the 
token,  knew  him  for  the  white-hair'd  man  of  the 
bowling-green. 

"  Master  Hannibal  Tingcomb,"  I  spoke  in  his  ear, 
"  — dog  and  murderer !  What  did  you  in  Oxford  last 
November  ?  And  how  of  Captain  Lucius  Higgs,  other- 
wise Captain  Luke  Settle,  otherwise  Mr.  X.  ?  Speak, 
before  I  serve  you  as  the  dog  was  served  that  night  I  " 

I  dream  yet,  in  my  sick  nights,  of  the  change  that 
came  over  the  vile,  hypocritical  knave  at  these  words  of 
mine.  To  see  his  pale  venerable  face  turn  green  and 
livid,  his  eye-ball  start,  his  hands  clutch  at  air — it 
frightened  me. 

"  Brandy  !  "  he  gasped.  "  Brandy  I  there — quick — 
for  God's  sake  !  " 

And  the  next  moment  he  had  slipp'd  from  my  grasp, 
and  was  wallowing  in  a  fit  on  the  floor.  I  ran  to  the 
cupboard  at  which  he  had  pointed,  and  finding  there 
a  bottle  of  strong  waters,  forced  some  drops  between  lii« 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OP  QLEYS.     223 

teeth :  and  hard  work  it  was,  he  gnashing  at  me  all  the 
6iine  and  foaming  at  the  mouth. 

Presently  he  ceased  to  writhe  and  bite  :  and  lifting, 
I  set  him  in  hi':  chair,  where  he  lay,  a  mere  limp  bundle, 
staring  and  blinking.  So  I  sat  down  facing  him,  and 
waited  his  recovery. 

"  Dear  young  sir,"  he  began  at  length  feebly,  his 
fingers  searching  the  Bible  before  him,  from  force  of 
habit.  "  Kind  young  sir — I  am  An  old,  dying  man, 
and  my  sins  have  found  me  out.  Only  yesterday,  the 
physician  at  Bodmin  told  me  that  my  days  are  num- 
bered. This  is  the  second  attack,  and  the  third  will  kill 
me." 

"WeU?"8aidI. 

"  If — if  Mistress  Delia  be  alive  (as  indeed  I  did  not 
think),  I  wUl  make  restitution — I  will  confess— only  tell 
me  what  to  do,  that  I  may  die  in  peace." 

Indeed,  he  look'd  pitiable,  sitting  there  and  stammer- 
ing :  but  I  hardened  my  heart  to  say — 

"  I  must  have  a  confession,  then,  written  before  I 
leave  the  room." 

"But,  dear  young  friend,  you  will  not  use  it  if 
I  give  up  all  ?  You  will  not  seek  my  life  ?  that  already 
is  worthless,  as  you  see." 

"  Why,  'tis  what  you  deterve.     But  Delia  shall  say 


224  THE    SPLENDID    8PU1L 

when  I  find  her — as  I  shall  go  straig'ht  to  seek  her.  If 
she  be  lost,  I  shall  use  it — never  fear  :  if  she  be  found, 
it  shall  be  hers  to  gay  what  mercy  she  can  discover  in 
her  heart ;  but  I  promise  you  I  shall  advise  none." 

The  tears  by  this  were  coursing-  down  his  shrunken 
cheeks,  but  I  observ'd  him  watch  me  narrowly,  as 
though  to  find  out  how  much  I  knew.  So  I  pullM  out 
my  pistol,  and  setting  pen  and  paper  before  him, 
obtained  at  the  end  of  an  hour  a  very  pretty  confession 
of  his  sins,  which  lies  among  my  papers  to  this  day. 
When  'twas  written  and  sign'd,  in  a  weak,  rambling 
hand,  I  read  it  through,  folded  it,  placed  it  inside  my 
coat,  and  prepared  to  take  my  leave. 

But  he  called  out  an  order  to  the  old  servant  to 
saddle  my  mare,  and  stood  softly  praying  and  beseech- 
ing me  in  the  courtyard  till  the  last  moment.  Nor 
when  I  was  mounted  would  anything  serve  but  he  must 
follow  at  my  stirrup  to  the  gate.  But  when  I  had 
briefly  taken  leave,  and  the  heavy  doors  had  creaked 
behind  me,  I  heard  a  voice  calling  after  me  down  the 
road — 

"  Dear  young  sir  I  Dear  friend  ! — I  had  forgotten 
somewhat.'' 

B/Cturning,  I  found  the  gate  fastened,  and  the  iron 
■butter  slipt  back. 


I  DO  NO  GOOD  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  GLEYS.    225 

"  Well  ?  "  1  asked,  leaning  towards  it. 

"  Dear  young-  friend,  I  pity  thee,  for  thy  paper  is 
worthless.  To-day,  by  my  advices,  the  army  of  our 
most  Christian  Parliament,  more  than  twenty  thousand 
strong,  under  the  Earl  of  Stamford,  have  overtaken  thy 
friends,  the  malignant  gentry,  near  Stratton  Heath,  in 
the  north-east.  They  are  more  than  two  to  one.  By 
this  hour  to-morrow,  the  Papists  all  will  be  running 
like  conies  to  their  burrows,  and  little  chance  wilt  thou 
have  to  seek  Delia  Killigrew,  much  less  to  find  her. 
And  remember,  I  know  enough  of  thy  late  services 
to  hang  thee :  mercy  then  will  lie  in  my  friends' 
hands ;  but  be  sure  I  shall  advise  none/' 

And  with  a  mocking  laugh  he  clapp'd-to  the 
grating  in  my  face. 


226 


CHAPTER  XV. 

I   LEAVE   JOAN    AND   RIDE   TO   THE   WARS. 

You  may  guess  how  I  felt  at  being  thus  properly  fooled. 
And  the  worst  was  I  could  see  no  way  to  mend  it;  for 
against  the  barricado  between  us  I  might  have  beat 
myself  for  hours,  yet  only  hurt  my  fists :  and  the  wall 
was  so  smooth  and  high,  that  even  by  standing  on 
Molly's  back  I  could  not — by  a  foot  or  more — reach  the 
top  to  pull  myself  over. 

There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  turn  homewards, 
down  the  hill :  which  I  did,  chewing  the  cud  of  my 
folly,  and  finding  it  bitter  as  gall.  What  consoled 
me  somewhat  was  the  reflection  that  his  threats  were, 
likely  enough,  mere  vapouring :  for  of  any  breach  of 
the  late  compact  between  the  parties  I  had  heard 
nothing,  and  never  seem'd  a  country  more  wholly  given 
up  to  peace  than  that  through  which  I  had  ridden  in 
the  morning.  So  recalling  ^Master  Tingcomb's  late  face 
of  terror,  and  the  confession  in  my  pocket,  I  felt  more 
cheerful.  "  England  has  grown  a  strange  place,  if  I 
cannot  get  justice  on  this  villain,"  thought  I ;  and  rod« 
forward,  planning  a  return-match  and  a  sweet  revenge. 


I    LEAVE    JOAN    AND    RIDE   TO   THE    WARS.  227 

There  is  no  more  soothing  game,  I  believe,  in  the 
world  than  this  of  holding  imaginary  triumphant  dis- 
course with  your  enemy.  Yet  (oddly)  it  brought  me 
but  cold  comfort  on  this  occasion,  my  wound  being 
too  recent  and  galling.  The  sky,  so  long  clouded,  was 
brightening  now,  and  growing  serener  every  minute  : 
the  hills  were  thick  with  fox-gloves,  the  vales  white 
with  hawthorn,  smelKng  very  sweetly  in  the  cool  of  the 
day  :  but  I,  with  the  bridle  flung  on  Molly's  neck,  pass'd 
them  by,  thinking  only  of  my  discomfiture,  and  barely 
rousing  myself  to  give  back  a  "  Good-day  "  to  those  that 
met  me  on  the  road.  Nor,  till  we  were  on  the  downs  and 
Joan's  cottage  came  in  sight,  did  I  shake  the  brooding  off. 

Joan  was  not  in  the  kitchen  when  I  arrived,  nor 
about  the  buildings ;  nor  yet  could  I  spy  her  anywhere 
moving  on  the  hills.  So,  after  calling  to  her  once  or 
twice,  I  stabled  the  mare,  and  set  off  up  the  tor-side 
to  seek  her. 

Now  I  must  tell  you  that  since  the  day  of  my 
coming  I  had  made  many  attempts  to  find  the  place 
where  Joan  had  then  hidden  me,  and  always  fruitlessly  : 
though  I  knew  well  whereabouts  it  must  be.  Indeed,  I 
had  thought  at  fij:^t  I  had  only  to  walk  straight  to  the 
hole  :  yet  found  after  repeated  trials  but  solid  earth  and 
boulders  for  my  pains. 
p2 


iilS  THE    SPLENDID    SPUB. 

But  to-day  as  I  climb'd  past  the  spot,  something 
very  bright  flash'd  in  my  eyes  and  dazzled  me  :  and 
rubhino;'  them  and  looking,  I  saw  a  great  hole  in  the 
hill — facing  to  the  sou^-west — in  the  very  place  I  had 
search 'd  for  it;  and  out  of  this  a  beam  of  light 
glancing. 

Creeping  near  on  tip-toe,  I  found  one  huge  block  of 
granite  that  before  had  seemed  bedded,  among  a  dozen 
fellow-boulders,  against  the  turf — the  base  resting  on 
another  well-nigh  as  big — was  now  rolled  back ;  having 
been  fixed  to  work  smoothly  on  a  pivot,  yet  so  like 
nature  that  no  eye,  but  by  chance,  could  detect  it.  Now, 
who  in  the  beginning  designed  this  hiding-place  1 
leave  you  to  consider;  and  whether  it  was  the  Jews 
or  Phoenicians — nations,  I  am  told,  that  once  work'd 
the  hills  around  for  tin.  But  inside  'twas  curiously 
paved  and  lined  with  slabs  of  granite,  the  specks  of  ore 
in  which,  I  noted,  were  the  points  of  light  that  had 
once  puzzled  me.  And  here  was  Joan's  bower,  and 
Joan  herself  inside  it. 

She  was  sitting  with  her  back  to  me,  in  her  left 
hand  holding  up  the  mirror,  that  caught  the  rays  of  the 
now  sinking  sun  (and  thus  had  dazzled  me),  while  with 
her  right  she  tried  to  twist  into  some  form  of  knot 
her  tresses — black,  and  coarse  as  a  horse's  mane — that 


I    LEAVE    JOAN    AND   RIDE    TO    THE    WARS.  229 

alrea':j  she  had  roughly  braided.  A  pail  of  water  stood 
besida  her ;  and  around  lay  scattered  a  score  or  more  of 
long  thorns,  cut  to  the  shape  of  hair-pins. 

'Tis  probable  that  after  a  minute's  watching  I  let  J 
some  laughter  escape  me.  At  any  rate  Joan  turned, 
spied  me,  and  scrambled  up,  with  an  angry  red  on  her 
cheek.  Then  I  saw  that  her  bodice  was  neater  lac'd 
than  usual,  and  a  bow  of  yellow  ribbon  (fishM  up 
heaven  knows  whence)  stuck  in  the  bosom.  But  the 
strangest  thing  was  to  note  the  effect  of  this  new  tidi- 
ness upon  her  :  for  she  took  a  step  forward  as  if  to  cuff 
me  by  the  ear  (as,  a  day  agone,  she  would  have  done), 
and  then  stoppM,  very  shy  and  hesitating. 

"Why,  Joan,''  said  I,  "don't  be  anger'd.  It 
suits  you  choicely — it  does  indeed." 

"  Art  scoffing,  I  doubt."  She  stood  looking  heavily 
and  askance  at  me. 

"  On  my  faith,  no  :  and  what  a  rare  tiring-bower 
the  Jew's  Kitchen  makes!  Come,  Joan,  be  debonair 
and  talk  to  me,  for  I  am  out  of  luck  to-day." 

"  Forgit  it,  then "  (and  she  pointed  to  the  sun), 
"whiles  yet  some  o't  is  left.  Tell  me  a  tale,  an 
thou'rt  minded." 

"Of  what?" 

**  O*  the  bloodiest  battle  thou'st  ever  heard  tell  on." 


S13U  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

So,  sitting  by  the  mouth  of  the  Jew's  Kitchen,  1 
told  her  as  much  as  I  could  remember  out  of  Homer's 
Iliad,  wondering  the  while  what  my  tutor,  Mr.  Josias 
How,  of  Trinity  College,  would  think  to  hear  me  so  use 
his  teaching,  By-and-bye,  as  I  warm'd  to  the  tale, 
Joan  forgot  her  new  smartness ;  and  at  length,  when 
Hector  was  running  from  Achilles  round  the  walls, 
clappM  her  hands  for  excitement,  crying,  "  Church  an' 
King,  lad  !     Oh,  brave  work  !  " 

**  Why,  no,"  answered  I,  "  'twas  not  for  that  they 
were  fighting ;  "  and  looking  at  her,  broke  off  with, 
*'  Joan,  art  certainly  a  handsome  girl  :  give  me  a  kiss 
for  the  mirror." 

Instead  of  flying  out,  as  I  look'd  for,  she  faced 
round,  and  answered  me  gravely — 

"  That  I  will  not :  not  to  any  but  my  master.** 

"  And  who  is  that  ?  " 

"  Nt)  .11  yet ;  nor  shall  be  till  one  has  beat  me  sore : 
him  will  I  love,  an'  follow  like  a  dog — if  so  be  he  whack 
me  often  enow'." 

**  A  strange  way  to  love,"  laughed  I. 

She  look'd  at  me  straight,  albeit  with  an  odd 
gloomy  light  in  her  eyes. 

**  Think  so.  Jack  ?  then  I  give  thee  leave  to  try." 

I  think  there  is  always  a  brutality  lurking  in  a  man 


I   LEAVE    JOAN    AND    RIDE   TO    THE    WARS.  23] 

to  leap  out  unawares.  Yet  why  do  I  seek  excuses, 
that  have  never  yet  found  one?  To  be  plain,  I  sprang 
fiercely  up  and  after  Joan,  who  had  already  started,  and 
was  racing  along  the  slope. 

Twice  around  the  tor  she  led  me  :  and  thougrh  I 
strainM  my  best,  not  a  yard  could  I  gain  upon  her,  for 
her  bare  feet  carried  her  light  and  free.  Indeed,  I  was 
losing  ground,  when  coming  to  the  Jew^s  Kitchen  a 
second  time,  she  tried  to  slip  inside  and  shut  the  stone 
in  my  face. 

Then  should  I  have  been  prettily  bemock'd,  had  I  not, 
with  a  great  effort,  contrived  to  thrust  my  boot  against 
the  door  just  as  it  was  closing.  Wrenching  it  open,  I 
laid  hand  on  her  shoulder ;  and  in  a  moment  she  had 
gript  me,  and  was  wrestling  like  a  wild-cat. 

Now  being  Cumberland-bred  I  knew  only  the 
wrestling  of  my  own  county,  and  nothing  of  the  Cornish 
style.  For  in  the  north  they  stand  well  apart,  and  try 
to  wear  down  one  another's  strength :  whereas  the 
Ojrnish  is  a  brisker  lighter  play — and  (as  I  must  confess) 
prettier  to  watch.  So  when  Joan  rush'd  in  and  closed 
with  me,  I  was  within  an  ace  of  being  thrown,  pat. 

But  recovering,  I  got  her  at  arm's  length,  and  held 
her  so,  while  my  heart  ach'd  to  see  my  fingers  gripping 
her  shoulders  and  sinking  into  the  flesh.     I  beggM  off . 


282  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

but  she  only  fought  and  pauted,  and  stiugc^led  to  lock 
me  by  the  ankles  a»^ain.  I  could  not  have  dream'd  to 
find  such  fierce  stren^^th  in  a  •^•irl.  Once  or  twice  she 
nearly  ovevmaster'd  me:  but  at  Knt^th  my  stubborn 
play  wore  her  out.  Her  breath  came  short  and  fast, 
then  fainter :  and  in  the  end,  still  holding  her  o£E, 
I  turned  her  by  the  shoulders,  and  let  her  drop  quietly 
on  the  turf.  No  thought  had  I  any  longer  of  kissing 
her ;    but    stood   back,    heartily    sick    and    ashamed    of 

myself. 

For  awhile  she  lay,  turnM  over  on  her  side,  with 
hand«  guarding  her  head,  as  if  expecting  me  to  strike 
her.  Then  gathering  herself  up,  she  came  and  put  her 
hand  in  mine,  very  meekly. 

"  Had  lik'd  it  better  had'st  thou  stamped  the  life 
out    o'    me,    almost.       But    there,    lad — am    thine    for 

ever  I " 

'Twas  like  a  buffet  in  the  face  to  me.     "  What  I  '* 

T  cried. 

She  looked  up  in  ray  face — dear  Heaven,  that  I 
should  have  to  write  it  I — with  eyes  brimful,  sick  with 
love  ;  tried  to  speak,  but  could  only  nod  :  and  broke 
mto  a  wild  fit  of  tears. 

I  was  standing  there  with  her  hand  in  mine,  and  a 
burning  remorse  in  my  heart,  when  I   heard   the  clear 


I    LEAVE    JOAN    AND    RIDE    TO   THE   WARS.  233 

notes  of  a  bugle  blown,  away  on  the  road  to  Laun- 
eeston. 

Looking  that  way,  I  saw  a  great  company  of  horse 
coming  down  over  the  crest,  the  sun  shining  level  on 
their  arms  and  a  green  standard  that  they  bore  in  their 
midst. 

Joan  spied  them  the  same  instant,  and  checked  her 
sobs.  Without  a  word  we  flung  ourselves  down  full- 
length  on  the  turf  to  watch. 

They  were  more  than  a  thousand,  as  I  guessed,  and 
came  winding  down  the  road  very  orderly,  till,  being 
full  of  them,  it  seemed  a  long  serpent  writhing  with 
shiny  scales.  The  tramp  of  hoofs  and  jingling  of  bits 
were  pretty  to  hear. 

"  Rebels  1 "  whispered  I. 

Joan  nodded. 

There  were  three  regiments  in  all,  whereof  the  first 
(and  biggest)  was  of  dragoons.  So  clear  was  the  air,  I 
could  almost  read  the  legend  on  their  standard,  and  the 
calls  of  their  captains  were  borne  up  to  us  extremely 
distinct. 

As  they  rode  leisurely  past,  I  thought  of  Master 
TingcomVs  threat,  and  wondered  what  this  array  could 
intend.  Nor,  turning  it  over,  could  I  find  any  explica- 
tion :  for  the  Earl  of  Stamford^s  gathering,  he  had  said, 


234  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

was  in  the  north-east,  and  I  knew  such  troops  as  the 
Cornish  generals  had  to  be  quartered  at  Launceston. 
Yet  here,  on  the  near  side  cf  Launceston,  was  a  large 
body  of  rebel  horse  marching  quietly  to  the  sou'-west. 
Where  was  the  head  or  tail  to  it  ? 

Turning  my  head  as  the  last  rider  disappeared  on 
the  Way  to  Bodmin,  I  spied  a  squat  oddly-shap'd  man 
striding  down  the  hill  very  briskly  :  yet  he  lookM  about 
him  often  and  kept  to  the  hollows  of  the  ground  ;  and 
was  crossing  below  us,  as  it  appear'd,  straight  for  Joan's 
cottage. 

Cried  I :  "  There  is  but  one  man  in  the  world  with 
such  a  gait — and  that's  Billy  Pottery  1  " 

And  jumping  to  my  feet  (for  he  was  come  directly 
beneath  us)  I  caught  up  a  great  stone  and  sent  it  bowl- 
ing down  the  slope. 

Bounce  it  went  past  him,  missing  his  legs  by  a  foot 
or  less.  The  man  turn'd,  and  catching  sight  of  me  as  I 
stood  waving,  made  his  way  up  the  hill.  'Twas  indeed 
Captain  Billy :  and  coming  up,  the  honest  fellow  almost 
hugg'd  me  for  joy. 

*•  Was  seeking  thee,  Jack,"  he  bawled :  "  learnt 
from  Sir  Bevill  where  belike  I  might  find  thee.  Left 
his  lodging  at  Launceston  this  raornin',  and  trudged 
ivery  foot  o'  the  way.     A  thirsty  land.  Jack — neither 


I    LEAVE    JOAN    AND    UIDE    TO    THE    WARS.  285 

horse's  meat  nor  man's  meat  therein,  nor  a  chair  to  sit 
down  on :  an'  three  women  only  have  I  kiss'd  this 
day  ! "  He  broke  off  and  look'd  at  Joan.  "  Beggin' 
the  lady's  pardon  for  sea-manners  and  way  o'  speech." 

"  Joan/'  said  I,  "  this  is  Billy  Pottery,  a  good 
mariner  and  friend  of  mine ;  and  as  deaf  as  a  haddock." 

Billy  made  a  leg ;  and  as  T  pointed  to  the  road  where 
the  cavalry  had  just  disappear'd,  went  on  with  a  nod — 

"  That's  so  :  old  Sir  G'arge  Chudleigh's  troop  o' 
horse  sent  off  to  Bodmin  to  seize  the  High  Sheriff  and 
his  po9se  there.  Two  hour  agone  I  spied  'em,  and  ha' 
been  ever  since  playin'  spy." 

"  Then  where  be  the  King's  forces  ? "  I  made  shift 
to  enquire  by  signs. 

"  March'd  out  o*  Launceston  to-day,  lad — an'  but  a 
biscuit  a  man  between  'em,  poor  dears — for  Stratton 
Heath,  i'  the  nor'-east,  where  the  rebels  be  encamp'd. 
Heard  by  scouts  o'  these  gentry  bein'  sent  to  Bodmin, 
and  were  minded  to  fight  th'  Earl  o'  Stamford  whiles  his 
dragooners  was  away.  An'  here's  the  long  an'  short  o't: 
thou'rt  wanted,  lad,  to  bear  a  hand  wi'  us  up  yonder — 
an  the  good  lady  here  can  spare  thee." 

And  here  we  both  look'd  at  Joan — I  shamefacedly 
enough,  and  Billy  with  a  puzzled  air,  which  he  tried 
very  delicately  to  hide. 


236  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

She  put  her  hand  in  mine. 

"  To  fight,  lad  ?  " 

I  nodded  my  head. 

"  Then  go,"  she  said  without  a  shake  in  her  voice ; 
and  as  I  made  no  answer,  went  on — "  Shall  a  woman 
hinder  when  there's  fightin'  toward  ?  Only  come  back 
when  thy  wars  be  over,  for  I  shall  miss  thee,  Jack." 

And  dropping  my  hand  she  led  the  way  down  to  the 
cottage. 

"  Now  Billy,  of  course,  had  not  heard  a  word  <  i 
this  :  but  perhaps  he  gathered  some  import.  Any  way, 
he  puU'd  up  short  midway  on  the  slope,  scratch'd  his 
head,  and  thunder'd — 

"  What  a  good  lass  I  " 

Joan,  some  paces  ahead,  turned  at  this  and  smil'd : 
whereat,  having  no  idea  he'd  spoken  above  a  whisper, 
Billy  blusht  red  as  any  peony. 

'Twas  but  a  short  half -hour  when,  the  mare  being 
saddled  and  Billy  fed,  we  took  our  leave  of  Joan.  Billy 
walked  beside  one  stirrup,  and  the  girl  on  the  other 
side,  to  see  us  a  few  yards  on  our  way.  At  length  she 
halted — 

"  No  leave-takin's.  Jack,  but  '  Church  and  King  I ' 
Only  do  thy  best  and  not  disgrace  me." 

And  "  Church  and   King  I  '*  she  calFd  thrice  after 


I    LEAVE   JOAN    AND    RIDE    TO    THE   WARS.  237 

as,  Standing  in  the  road.  For  me,  as  I  rode  up  out  of 
that  valley,  the  drums  seemM  beating  and  the  bugles 
calling  to  a  new  life  ahead.  The  last  light  of  day  was 
on  the  tors,  the  air  blowing  fresher  as  we  mounted  : 
and  with  Molly's  every  step  the  past  five  months  ap- 
peared to  dissolve  and  fall  away  from  me  as  a  dream. 

On  the  crest,  I  turned  in  the  saddle.  Joan  was  yet 
standing  there,  a  black  speck  on  the  road.  She  waved 
her  hand  once. 

Billy  had  turned  too,  and,  uncovering,  shouted  so 
that  the  hill-tops  echoed. 

"  A  good  lass — a  good  lass  !  But  what's  become  o' 
t'other  one  ?  " 


£88 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THB    BATTLE    OP   STAMFORD    HEATH. 

Night  came,  and  found  us  but  midway  between  Temple 
and  Launceston :  for  tho'  my  comrade  steppM  briskly 
beside  me,  'twas  useless  to  put  Molly  beyond  a  walk ; 
and  besides,  the  mare  was  new  from  her  day's  journey. 
This  troubled  me  the  less  by  reason  of  the  moon  (now 
almost  at  the  full),  and  the  extreme  whiteness  of  the 
road  underfoot,  so  that  there  was  no  fear  of  going 
astray.  And  Billy  engaged  that  by  sunrise  we  should 
be  in  sight  of  the  King's  troops. 

"Nay,  Jack,''  he  said,  when  by  signs  I  offered  him 
to  ride  and  tie  :  "  never  rode  o'  horseback  but  once,  and 
then  'pon  Parson  S pinks  his  red  mare  at  Bideford.  Par- 
son i'  those  days  was  courtin'  the  Widow  Hambly,  over 
to  Torrington  :  an'  I,  that  wanted  to  fare  to  Barnstaple, 
spent  that  mornin'  an'  better  part  o'  th'  afternoon, 
clawin'  off  Torrington.  And  th'  end  was  the  larboard 
halyards  broke,  an'  the  mare  gybed,  an'  to  Torrington  I 
went  before  the  wind,  wi'  an  unseemly  bloody  nose. 
'  Lud  I '  cries  the  widow,  '  'tis  the  wrong  man  'pon  the 


THE    BATTLE    OF    STAMFORD    HEATH.  239 

right  horse  ! '     '  Pardon,  mistress/  says  I,   '  the  man  is 
well  enow,  but  'pen  the  wrong  horse,  for  sure.' " 

Now  and  then,  as  we  went,  I  would  dismount  and 
lead  Molly  by  the  bridle  for  a  mile  or  so  :  and  all  the 
way  to  Launceston  Billy  was  recounting  his  adventures 
since  our  parting.  It  appeared  that,  after  leaving  me, 
they  had  come  to  Plymouth  with  a  fair  passage  :  but 
before  they  could  unlade,  had  advertisement  of  the 
Governor's  design  to  seize  all  vessels  then  riding  in  the 
Sound,  for  purposes  of  war ;  and  so  made  a  quick  escape 
by  night  into  Looe  Haven,  where  they  had  the  fortune 
to  part  with  the  best  part  of  their  cargo  at  a  high 
profit.  *Twas  while  unlading  here  that  Billy  had  a  mind 
to  pay  a  debt  he  ow'd  to  a  cousin  of  his  at  Altarnun, 
and,  leaving  Matt.  Soames  in  charge,  had  tramped 
northward  through  Liskeard  to  Launceston,  where  he 
found  the  Cornish  forces,  and  was  met  by  the  news 
of  the  Earl  of  Stamford's  advance  in  the  north-east. 
Further,  meeting,  in  Sir  BevilPs  troop,  with  some 
north-coast  men  of  his  acquaintance,  he  fell  to  talking, 
and  so  learnt  about  me  and  my  ride  towards  Braddock, 
which  (it  seem'd)  was  now  become  common  knowledge. 
This  led  him  to  seek  Sir  Bevill,  with  the  result  that 
you  know  :  "  for,"  as  he  wound  up,  "  'tis  a  desirable  an* 
rare  delight  to  pay  a  debt  an'  see  some  fun,  together." 


240  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

We  had  some  trouble  at  Launccston  gate,  where 
were  a  few  burghers  posted  for  sentries,  and,  as  I  could 
see,  ready  to  take  fright  at  their  own  shadows.  But 
Billy  gave  the  watch-word  ("  One  and  All "),  and 
presently  they  let  us  through.  As  we  passM  along  the 
street  we  marked  a  light  in  every  window  almost,  tho' 
'twas  near  midnight;  and  the  peojie  moving  about 
behind  their  curtains.  There  were  groups  too  in  the 
dark  doorways,  gathered  there  discussing,  that  eyed 
us  as  we  went  by,  and  answered  Billy's  Good-nighty 
honest  men  !  very  hoarse  and  doubtfully. 

But  when  we  were  beyond  the  town,  and  between 
hedges  again,  I  think  I  must  have  dozed  off  in  my 
saddle.  For,  though  this  was  a  road  full  of  sharp 
memories,  being  the  last  I  had  travelled  with  Delia,  I 
have  no  remembrance  to  have  felt  them ;  or,  indeed,  of 
noting  aught  but  the  fresh  night-air,  and  the  constel- 
lation of  the  Bear  blazing  ahead,  and  Billy's  voice 
resonant  beside  me. 

And  after  this  I  can  recall  passing  the  tower  of 
Marham  Church,  with  the  paling  sky  behind  it,  and 
some  birds  chattering  in  the  carved  courses :  and  soon 
(it  seem'd)  felt  Billy's  grip  on  my  knee,  and  open'd 
my  eyes  to  see  his  finger  pointing. 

We  stood  on  a  ridge  above  a  hollow  vale  into  which 


THE  BATTLE  OP  STAMFORD  HEATH.       241 

the  sun,  though  now  bright,  did  not  yet  pierce,  but 
passing  orer  to  a  high,  conical  hill  beyond,  smote  level 
on  line  after  line  of  white  tents — the  prettiest  sight ! 
'Twas  the  enemy  there  encamped  on  the  top  and  some 
way  down  the  sides,  the  smoke  of  their  trampled  watch- 
fires  still  curling  among  the  gorse-bushes.  I  heard 
their  trumpets  calling  and  drums  beating  to  arms ;  for 
though,  glancing  back  at  the  sun,  I  judged  it  to  be 
hardly  past  four  in  the  morning,  yet  already  the  slopes 
were  moving  like  an  ant-hill — the  regiments  gathering, 
arms  flashing,  horsemen  galloping  to  and  fro,  and  the 
captains  shouting  their  conmiands.  In  the  distance  this 
had  a  sweet  and  cheerful  sound,  no  more  disquieting  than 
a  plough-boy  calling  to  his  team. 

Looking  down  into  the  valley  at  our  feet,  at  first  I 
saw  no  sign  of  our  own  troops— only  the  roofs  of  a 
little  town,  with  overmuch  smoke  spread  above  it,  like  a 
morning  mist.  But  here  also  I  heard  the  church  bells 
clashing  and  a  drum  beating,  and  presently  spied  a 
gleam  of  arms  down  among  the  trees,  and  then  a  regi- 
ment of  foot  moving  westward  along  the  base  of  the  hill. 
*Twa8  evident  the  battle  was  at  hand,  and  we  quickened 
our  pace  down  into  the  street. 

It  lay  on  the  slope,  and  midway  down  we  passM 
some  watch-fires  burnt  out ;  and  then  a  soldier  or  two 


^42  THE    SPLENDID    SPUB. 

running  and  fastening  their  straps;  and  last  a  little 
child,  that  seem'd  wild  with  the  joy  of  living  amid  great 
events,  but  led  us  pretty  straight  to  the  sign  of  "  The 
Tree,"  which  indeed  was  the  only  tavern. 

It  stood  some  way  back  from  the  street,  with  a 
great  elm  before  the  porch :  where  by  a  table  sat  two 
men,  with  tankards  beside  them,  and  a  small  company 
of  grooms  and  soldiers  standing  round.  Both  men 
were  more  than  ordinary  tall  and  soldier-like :  only 
the  bigger  wore  a  scarlet  cloak  very  richly  lac'd, 
and  was  shouting  orders  to  his  men ;  while  the  other, 
drest  in  plain  buff  suit  and  jack-boots,  had  a  map 
spread  before  him,  which  he  studied  very  attentively, 
writing  therein  with  a  quill  pen. 

"  What  a  phigue  have  we  here  ?  "  cries  the  big  man, 
as  we  drew  up. 

"  Recruits  if  it  please  you,  sir,"  said  I,  dismounting 
and  pulling  off  my  hat,  tho'  his  insolent  tone  offended  me. 

"  S'lid  1  The  boy  speaks  as  if  he  were  a  regiment/' 
growls  he,  half  aloud  :    "  Can'st  fight  ?  " 

"  That,  with  your  leave,  sir,  is  what  I  am  come  to 

tiy. 

'*  And  this  rascal  ?  "     He  turned  on  Billy. 

Billy  heard  not  a  word,  of  course,  yet  answered 
readily — 


THE    BATTLE    OP    STAMFORD    HEATH.  243 

"  Why,  since  your  honour  is  so  pleasantly  minded — 
let  it  be  cider." 

Now  the  first  effect  of  this,  delivered  with  all  force 
of  lung,  was  to  make  the  big  man  sit  bolt  upright  and 
staring :  recovering  speech,  however,  he  broke  into  a 
volley  of  blasphemous  curses. 

All  this  while  the  man  in  buff  had  scarce  lifted  his 
eyes  off  the  map.  But  now  he  looks  up — and  I  saw  at 
the  first  glance  that  the  two  men  hated  each  other. 

"  I  think,''  said  he  quietly,  "  my  Lord  Mohun  has 
forgot  to  ask  the  gentleman's  name.*' 

"My  name  is  Marvel,  sir — John  Marvel.'*  I 
answered  him  with  a  bow. 

"  Hey  ! " — and  dropping  his  pen  he  starts  up  and 
grasps  my  hand — "  Then  'tis  you  I  have  never  thanked 
for  His  Gracious  Majesty's  letter." 

"  The  General  Hopton  ?  "  cried  I. 

"  Even  so,  sir.  My  lord,"  he  went  on,  still  holding 
my  hand  and  turning  to  his  companion,  "  let  me  present 
to  you  the  gentleman  that  in  January  sav'd  your  house 
of  Bocconnoc  from  burning  at  the  hands  of  the  rebels 
— whom  God  confound  this  day  1 "  He  hf ted  his 
hat. 

"Amen,''  said  I,  as  his  lordship  bowed,  exceeding 
sulky.     But  I  did  not  value  his  rage,  being  hot  with 


i-i4  THB    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

joy  to  be  BO  beprais'd  by  tbe  first  captain  (as  I  yet 
hold)  on  the  royal  side.  Who  now,  not  without  a  sly 
triumph,  flung  the  price  of  Billy's  cider  on  the  table 
and,  folding  up  his  map,  addressed  me  again — 

"  Master  Marvel,  the  fight  to-day  will  lie  but  little 
with  the  horse — or  so  I  hope.  You  will  do  well,  if 
your  wish  be  to  serve  us  best,  to  leave  your  mare 
behind.  The  troop  which  my  Lord  Mohun  and  I  com- 
mand together  is  below.  But  Sir  Bevill  Grenville,  who 
has  seen  and  is  interested  in  you,  has  the  first  claim  : 
and  I  would  not  deny  you  the  delight  to  fight  your  first 
battle  under  so  good  a  master.  His  men  are,  with  Sir 
John  Berkeley's  troop,  a  little  to  the  westward  :  and  if 
you  are  ready  I  will  go  some  distance  with  you,  and  put 
you  in  the  way  to  find  him.  My  lord,  may  we  look  for 
you  presently  ?  " 

Tlie  Lord  Mohun  nodded,  surly  enough :  so,  Billy's 
eider  being  now  drunk  and  Molly  given  over  to  an 
ostler,  we  set  out  down  the  hill  together,  Billy  shoulder- 
in<^  a  pike  and  walking  after  with  the  groom  that  led 
Sir  Ralph's  horse.  Be  sure  the  General's  courtly 
manner  of  speech  set  my  blood  tingling.  I  seem'd  to 
wrow  a  full  two  inches  taller ;  and  when,  in  the  vale, 
we  jiarted,  he  directing  me  to  the  left,  where  through  a 
irap  1  could  see  Sir  Bevill's  troop  forming  at  some  five 


THE    BATTLE    OF    STAMFOED    HEATH.  245 

hundred  paces^  distance,  I  felt  a  very  desperate  warrior 
indeed ;  and  set  off  at  a  run,  with  Billy  behind  me. 

'Twas  an  open  space  we  had  to  cross,  dotted  with 
gorse-bushes ;  and  the  enemy's  regiments,  plain  to  see, 
drawn  up  in  battaHa  on  the  slope  above,  which  here  was 
gentler  than  to  the  south  and  west.  But  hardly  had  we 
gone  ten  yards  than  I  saw  a  puff  of  white  smoke  above, 
then  another,  and  then  the  summit  ringed  with  flame; 
and  heard  the  noise  of  it  roaring  in  the  hills  around. 
At  the  first  sound  I  pulled  up,  and  then  began  running 
again  at  full  speed :  for  I  saw  our  division  already  in 
motion,  and  advancing  up  the  hill  at  a  quick  pace. 

The  curve  of  the  slope  hid  all  but  the  nearest :  but 
above  them  I  saw  a  steep  earthwork,  and  thereon  three 
or  four  brass  pieces  of  ordnance  glittering  whenever  the 
smoke  lifted.  For  here  the  artillery  was  plying  the 
briskest,  povu-ing  down  volley  on  volley ;  and  four  regi- 
ments at  least  stood  massed  behind,  ready  to  fall  on  the 
Comishmen;  who,  answering  with  a  small  discharge 
of  musketry,  now  ran  forward  more  nimbly. 

To  catch  up  with  them,  I  must  now  turn  my  course 
obliquely  up  the  hill,  where  running  was  pretty  toil- 
some. We  were  panting  along  when  suddenly  a  shower 
of  fsand  and  earth  was  dasht  in  my  face,  spattering  me 
all  over.     Half-blinded,  I  looked  and  saw  a  great  roimd- 


246  THE    SPLENDID    SPUK. 

shot  had  ploucrhM  a  trench  in  the  ground  at  nay  feetj 
and  lay  there  buried. 

At  the  same  moment,  Billy,  who  was  running  at  my 
shoulder,  plumps  down  on  his  knees  and  begins  to  whine 
and  moan  most  pitiably. 

"  Art  hurt,  dear  fellow  ?  "  asked  I,  turning. 

"  Oh,  Jack,  Jack — I  have  no  stomach  for  this  !  A 
cool,  wet  death  at  sea  I  do  not  fear ;  only  to  have  these 
great  hot  shot  burning  in  a  man's  belly — 'tis  terrifying. 
I  hate  a  swift  death  I  Jack,  I  be  a  sinner — 1  will  con- 
fess :  I  lied  to  thee  yesterday — never  kissM  the  three 
maids  I  spoke  of — never  kiss'd  but  one  i'  my  life,  an' 
her  a  tap-wench,  that  slapt  my  face  for  *t,  an'  so  don't 
properly  count.     I  be  a  very  boastful  man  I  " 

Now  I  myself  had  felt  somewhat  cold  inside  when 
the  guns  began  roaring  :  but  this  set  me  right  in  a 
trice.  I  whipt  a  pistol  out  of  my  sash  and  put  the  cold 
ring  to  his  ear :  and  he  scrambled  up ;  and  was  a  very 
lion  all  the  rest  of  the  day. 

But  now  we  had  again  to  change  our  course,  for  to 
my  dismay  I  saw  a  line  of  sharpshooters  moving  down 
among  the  gorse  bushes,  to  take  the  Comishmen  in 
flank.  And  'twas  lucky  we  had  but  a  little  way  further 
to  go ;  for  these  skirmishers,  thinking  perhaps  from  my 
dress  and  our  running  thus  that  we  bore  some  message 


THE    BATTLE    OP    STAMFORD    HEATH.  24? 

open'd  fire  on  us  :  and  tho'  thej  were  bad  marksmen, 
'twas  ugly  to  see  their  bullets  pattering  into  the  turf,  to 
right  and  left. 

We  caught  up  the  very  last  line  of  the  ascending 
troop^lean,  hungry -looking  men,  with  wan  faces,  but 
shouting  lustily.  I  think  they  were  about  three  hundred 
in  all.  "  Come  on,  lad,^'  called  out  a  bearded  fellow 
with  a  bandage  over  one  eye,  making  room  for  me  at 
his  side  ;  "  there^s  work  for  plenty  more  I  " — and  a 
minute  after,  a  shot  took  him  in  the  ribs,  and  he 
scream'd  out  "  Oh,  my  God  \"  and  flinging  up  his  arms, 
leapt  a  foot  in  air  and  fell  on  his  face. 

Pressing  up,  I  noted  that  the  first  line  was  now  at 
the  foot  of  the  earthwork ;  and,  in  a  minute,  saw  their 
gteel  caps  and  crimson  sashes  swarming  up  the  face  of 
it,  and  their  pikes  shining.  But  now  came  a  shock, 
and  the  fellow  in  front  was  thrust  back  into  my  arms. 
I  reeled  down  a  pace  or  two  and  then,  finding  foot- 
hold, stood  pushing.  And  next,  the  whole  body  came 
tumbling  back  on  me,  and  down  the  hill  we  went  flying, 
with  oaths  and  cries.  Three  of  the  rebel  regiments  had 
been  flung  on  us  and  by  sheer  weight  bore  us  before 
them.  At  the  same  time  the  sharp-shooters  pour'd  in 
a  volley  :  and  I  began  to  see  how  a  man  may  go  through 
a  battle,  and  be  beat,  without  striking  a  blow. 


248  THE    SPLENDID    SPUX. 

But  in  the  midst  of  this  scurry  I  heard  the  sound  ol 
cheering.  'Twas  Sir  John  Berkeley's  troop  (till  now 
posted  under  cover  of  the  hedges  below)  that  had  come 
to  our  support ;  and  the  rebels,  fearing  to  advance  too 
far,  must  have  withdrawn  again  behind  their  earthwork, 
for  after  a  while  the  pressure  easM  a  bit,  and,  to  my 
amaze,  the  troop  which  but  a  minute  since  was  a  mere 
huddled  crowd,  formed  in  some  order  afresh,  and  once 
more  began  to  climb.  This  time,  I  had  a  thick-set  pike- 
man  in  front  of  me,  with  a  big  wen  at  the  back  of  his 
neck  that  seem'd  to  fix  all  my  attention.  And  up  we 
went,  I  counting  the  beat  of  my  heart  that  was  already 
going  hard  and  short  with  the  work ;  and  then,  amid 
the  rattle  and  thunder  of  their  guns,  we  stoppM  again. 

I  had  taken  no  notice  of  it,  but  in  the  confusion 
of  the  first  repulse  the  greater  part  of  our  men  had 
been  thrust  past  me,  so  that  now  I  found  myself  no 
further  back  than  the  fourth  rank,  and  at  the  very  foot 
of  the  earth-work,  up  the  which  our  leaders  were  flung 
like  a  wave ;  and  soon  I  was  scrambling  after  them, 
ankle-deep  in  the  sandy  earth,  the  man  with  the  wen 
just  ahead,  grinding  my  instep  with  his  heel  and  poking 
hie  pike-stafE  between  my  knees  as  he  slipt. 

And  just  at  the  moment  when  the  top  of  our  wave 
was  cleaving  a  small  breach  above  us,  he  fell  on  the  flat 


THE  BATTLE  OF  STAMFORD  HEATH.       249 

of  his  pike,  with  his  nose  buried  in  the  gravel  and  hit 
hands  clutching.  Looking  up  I  saw  a  tall  rebel 
straddling  above  him  with  musket  clubbed  to  beat 
his  brains  out :  whom  with  an  effort  I  caught  by  the 
boot ;  and,  the  bank  slipping  at  that  instant,  down  we 
all  slid  in  a  heap,  a  jumble  of  arms  and  legs,  to  the 
very  bottom. 

Before  I  had  the  sand  well  out  of  my  eyes,  my 
comrade  was  up  and  had  his  pike  loose;  and  in  a 
twinkling,  the  rebel  was  spitted  through  the  middle  and 
writhing.  'Twas  sickening :  but  before  I  could  pull 
out  my  pistol  and  end  his  pain  (as  I  was  minded),  back 
came  our  front  rank  a-top  of  us  again,  and  down  they 
were  driven  like  sheep,  my  companion  catching  up  the 
dead  man's  musket  and  ammunition  bag,  and  I  follow- 
ing down  the  slope  with  three  stout  rebels  at  my  heels. 
"  What  will  be  the  end  of  this  ?  "  thought  I. 

The  end  was,  that  after  forty  yards  or  so,  finding  the 
foremost  close  upon  me,  I  turned  about  and  let  fly  with 
my  pistol  at  him.  He  spun  round  twice  and  drop't : 
which  I  was  wondering  at  (the  pistol  being  but  a  poor 
weapon  for  aim)  when  I  was  caught  by  the  arm  and 
pulPd  behind  a  clump  of  bushes  handy  by.  'Twas  the 
man  with  the  wen,  and  by  his  smoking  musket  I  knew 
that  'twas  he  had  fired  the  shot  that  killed  my  pursuer. 


£50  THE    SPLENDID    SPU*. 

"  Good  turn  for  good  turn,"  says  he  :  "  quick  with 
thy  other  pistol !  ** 

The  other  two  had  stopped  doubtfully,  but  at 
the  next  discharge  of  my  pistol  they  turn'd  tail  and 
went  up  the  hill  again,  and  we  were  left  alone.  And 
suddenly  I  grew  aware  that  my  head  was  aching  fit 
to   split,   and  lay   down   on   the   turf,*  very   sick   and 

m. 

My  comrade  took  no  notice  of  this,  but,  going  for 
the  dead  man's  musket,  kept  loading  and  firing,  pausing 
now  and  then  for  his  artillery  to  cool,  and  whistling  a 
tune  that  rune  in  my  head  to  this  day.  And  all  the 
time  I  heard  shouts  and  cries  and  the  noise  of  musketry 
all  around,  which  made  me  judge  that  the  attack  was 
going  on  in  many  places  at  once.  When  I  came  to 
myself  'twas  to  hear  a  bugle  below  calling  again  to  the 
charge,  and  once  more  came  the  two  troops  ascending. 
At  their  head  was  a  slight-built  man,  bare-headed,  with 
the  sun  (that  was  by  this,  high  over  the  hill)  smiting 
on  his  brown  curls,  and  the  wind  blowing  them.  He 
carried  a  naked  sword  in  his  hand,  and  waved  his  men 
forward  as  cheerfully  as  though  'twere- a  dance  and  he 
leading  out  his  partner. 

"Who  i«  that  yonder?"  asked  I,  gitting  up  and 
pointing. 


THl    BATTLE   OF   STAMPORD    HEATH.  251 

"  Bless  thy  innocent  heart ! "  said  my  comrade, 
"  dostn't  thee  know  ?     'Tis  Sir  Bevill." 

*  ♦  *  ♦  ♦ 

Twould  be  tedious  to  tell  the  whole  of  this  long 
fight,  which,  beginning  soon  after  sunrise,  ended  not  till 
four  in  the  afternoon,  or  thereabouts  :  and  indeed  of  the 
whole  my  recoHection  is  but  of  continual  advance  and 
repulse  on  that  same  slope.  And  herein  may  be  seen 
the  wisdom  of  our  generals,  in  attacking  while  the 
main  body  of  the  enemy's  horse  was  away  :  for  had  the 
Earl  of  Stamford  possessed  a  sufficient  force  of  dragoons 
to  let  slip  on  us  at  the  first  discomfiture,  there  is  little 
doubt  he  might  have  ended  the  battle  there  and  then. 
As  it  was,  the  horse  stood  out  of  the  fray,  theirs  upon 
the  simimit  of  the  hill,  ours  (under  Col.  John  Digby) 
on  the  other  slope,  to  protect  the  town  and  act  as 
reserve. 

The  foot,  in  four  parties,  was  disposed  about  the 
hill  on  all  sides :  to  the  west — as  we  know — under  Sir 
John  Berkeley  and  Sir  Bevill  Grenville  j  to  the  south 
under  General  Hopton  and  Lord  Mohun ;  to  the  east 
under  the  Coldnels  Tom  Basset  and  William  Godolphin  j 
while  the  steep  side  to  the  north  was  stormed  by  Sir 
Nicholas  Slanning  and  Colonel  Godolphin,  with  their 
companies.     And  aa  we  had  but  eight  small  pieces  of 


252  THB    SPLENDID    8PUI. 

cannon  and  were  in  numbers  less  than  one  to  two,  all 
we  had  to  do  was  to  march  up  the  hill  in  face  of  theii 
fire,  catch  a  knock  on  the  head,  maybe,  grin,  and  come 
on  again. 

But  at  three  o'clock,  we,  having  been  for  the  sixth 
time  beaten  back,  were  panting  under  cover  of  a  hedge, 
and  Sir  John  Berkeley,  near  by,  was  writing  on  a  drum- 
head some  message  to  the  camp,  when  there  comes  a 
young  man  on  horseback,  his  face  smear'd  with  dirt  and 
dust,  and  rides  up  to  him  and  Sir  Bevill.  'Twas  (I  have 
since  learnt)  to  say  that  the  powder  was  all  spent  but  a 
barrel  or  two :  but  this  only  the  captains  knew  at  the 
time. 

''Very  well,  then,"  cries  Sir  Bevill,  leaping  up  gaily. 
"  Come  along,  boys — we  must  do  it  this  time/'  And, 
the  troop  forming,  once  more  the  trumpets  sounded  the 
charge,  and  up  we  went.  Away  along  the  slope  we 
heard  the  other  trumpeters  sounding  in  answer,  and  I 
believe  'twas  a  sursum  corda  I  to  all  of  us. 

Billy  Pottery  was  ranged  on  my  right,  in  the  first 
rank,  and  next  to  me,  on  the  other  side,  a  giant,  near 
seven  foot  high,  who  said  his  name  was  Anthony  Payne 
and  hifl  business  to  act  as  body-servant  to  Sir  Bevill. 
And  he  it  was  that  struck  up  a  mighty  curious  song  in 
the  Cornish  tongufl,  which  the  rest  took  up  with  a  will. 


THX   BATTLl   Of    JTAJCFOKD    HIATH.  255 

'Twas  incredible  Kow  it  put  fire  into  them  all ;  and  Sir 
Bevill  tost  his  hat  into  the  air,  and  after  him  like 
schoolboys  we  pelted,  straight  for  the  masses  ahead. 

For  now  over  the  rampart  came  a  company  of  red 
musketeers,  and  two  of  russet-clad  pikemen,  charging 
down  on  us.  A  moment,  and  we  were  crushed  back : 
another,  »nd  the  chant  rose  again.  We  were  grappling, 
hand  to  hand,  in  the  midst  of  their  files. 

But,  good  lack  I  What  use  is  swordsmanship  in  a 
charge  like  this  ?  The  first  red-coat  that  encountered  me 
I  had  spitted  through  the  lung,  and,  carried  on  by  the 
rush,  he  twirled  me  round  like  a  windmill.  In  an 
instant  I  was  passed ;  the  giant  stepping  before  me  and 
clearing  a  space  about  him,  using  his  pike  as  if  'twere 
a  flail.  With  a  wrench  I  tugged  my  sword  out  and 
followed.  I  saw  Sir  Bevill,  a  little  to  the  left,  beaten 
to  his  kuee,  and  earned  towards  me.  Stretching  out  a 
hand  I  pullM  him  on  his  feet  again,  catching,  as  I  did 
so,  a  crack  on  the  skull  that  would  have  ended  me,  had 
not  Billy  Pottery  put  up  his  pike  and  broke  the  force  of 
it.  Next,  I  remember  grij)ping  another  red-coat  by  the 
beard  and  thrusting  at  him  with  shortened  blade.  Then 
the  giant  ahead  lifted  his  pike  high,  and  we  fought  to 
rally  round  it;  and  with  that  I  seemed  caught  off  my 
feet  and  swept  forward  : — and  we  were  on  the  crest. 


254  THl    SPLINDID   fPUK. 

Taking  breath,  I  Baw  the  enemy  melting  o£E  the 
summit  like  a  man's  breath  off  a  pane.  And  Sir 
Bevill  caught  my  hand  and  pointed  across  to  where, 
on  the  north  side,  a  white  standard  embroider'd  with 
gold  griffins  was  mounting. 

*'  'Tis  dear  Nick  Slanning  I "  he  cried :  "God  be 
prais'd — the  day  is  ours  for  certain  I  " 


256 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

I   MEET   WITH    A   HAPPY    ADVENTURE    BY    BURNIKO 
OF   A    GREEN    LIGHT. 

The  rest  of  this  signal  victory  (in  which  1,700  prisoners 
were  taken,  besides  the  Major- General  Chudleigh ;  and 
all  the  rebels'  camp,  cannon  and  victuals)  I  leave  his- 
torians to  tell.  For  very  soon  after  the  rout  was 
assured  (the  plain  below  full  of  men  screaming  and 
running,  and  Col.  John  Digby's  dragoons  after  them, 
chasing,  cutting,  and  killing),  a  wet  muzzle  was  thrust 
into  my  hand,  and  turning,  I  found  Molly  behind  me, 
with  the  groom  to  whom  I  had  given  her  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  rogue  had  counted  on  a  crown  for  his  readi- 
ness, and  swore  the  mare  was  ready  for  anything,  he 
having  mixt  half  a  pint  of  strong  ale  with  her  mash, 
not  half  an  hour  before. 

So  I  determined  to  see  the  end  of  it,  and  paying  the 
fellow,  climbM  into  the  saddle.  On  the  summit  the 
Cornish  captains  were  now  met,  and  cordially  em- 
bracing. 'Tis  very  sad  in  these  latter  times  to  call  back 
their  shouts  and  boyish  laughter,  so  soon  to  be  quencht 
on    Lansdowne   slopes,    or   by  Bristol   gralE.      Yet,  O 


156  THB    SPLENDID   SPUK. 

favoured  ones  I — to  chase  Victory,  to  grasp  her  flutfrmg 
skirt,  and  so,  with  warm,  panting  cheeks,  kissing  her, 
to  fall,  escaping  evil  days  1 

How  could  they  laugh?  For  me,  the  late  pas- 
sionate struggle  left  me  shaken  with  sobs ;  and  for 
the  starting  tears  I  saw  neither  moors  around,  nor 
eun,  nor  twinkling  sea.  Brushing  them  away,  I  was 
aware  of  Billy  Pottery  striding  at  my  stirrup,  and 
munching  at  a  biscuit  he  had  found  in  the  rebels'  camp. 
Said  he,  "  In  season.  Jack,  is  in  reason.  There  be  times 
to  sing  an'  to  dance,  to  marry  and  to  give  in  mar- 
riage ;  an'  likewise  times  to  become  as  wax :  but 
now,  lookin'  about  an'  seein'  no  haughty  slaughterin' 
cannon  but  haa  a  Comishman  seated  'pon  the  touch- 
hole  of  the  same,  says  I  in  my  thoughtsome  way, 
'Forbear!'" 

Presently  he  pulls  up  before  a  rebel  trooper,  that 
was  writhing  on  the  slope  with  a  shatter'd  thigh,  yet 
raised  himself  on  his  fists  to  gaze  on  us  with  wide,  pain- 
ful eyes. 

"  Good  sirs,"  gasp'd  out  the  rebel,  "  can  you  tell  me 
— where  be  Nat  Ship  ward  ?  " 

"  Now  how  should  I  know  ?  "  I  answer*d. 

"'A  had  nutty-brown  curls,  an'  wore  a  red  jacket — 
Oh,  as  straight  a  young  man  as  ever  pitched  hay  i  'a 


1   MSBT    WITH    ▲   HAPPY   ADVENTUEB.  257 

garved  in  General  Chudleigh's  troop— a  very  singular 
straight  young  man/' 

"  Death  has  taken  a  many  such,"  said  I,  and 
thought   on  the  man  I  had  run  through   in   our  last 

charge. 

The  fellow  groaned.  "  *A  was  my  son/'  he  said : 
and  though  Billy  puIFd  out  a  biscuit  (his  pockets  bulged 
with  them)  and  laid  it  beside  him,  he  turned  from  it, 
and  sank  back  on  the  turf  again. 

We  left  him,  and  now,  the  descent  being  gentler, 
broke  into  a  nm,  in  hopes  to  catch  up  with  Col.  John 
DighyB  dragoons,  that  already  were  far  across  the 
next  vale.  The  slope  around  us  was  piled  with  dead 
and  dying,  whereof  four  out  of  every  five  were  rebels ; 
and  cruelly  they  cursed  us  as  we  passed  them  by.  Night 
was  coming  on  apace;  and  here  already  we  were  in 
deep  shadow,  but  could  see  the  yellow  sun  on  the 
hills  beyond.  We  crossed  a  stream  at  the  foot,  and  were 
climbing  again.  Behind  us  the  cheering  yet  continued, 
though  fainter  :  and  fainter  grew  the  cries  and  shouting 
in  front.  Soon  we  tum'd  into  a  lane  over  a  steep  hedge, 
under  the  which  two  or  three  stout  rebels  were  cowering. 
As  we  came  tumbling  almost  atop  of  them,  they  ran 
yelling :  and  we  let  them  go  in  peace. 

The  lane  gradually  led  us  to  westward,  out  of  the 

B 


268  THl   STLllfDID  ipum. 

main  line  of  the  rout,  and  past  a  hamlet  where  every 
door  was  shut  and  all  silent.  And  at  last  a  slice  of  the 
sea  fronted  us,  between  two  steeply  shelving  hills.  On 
the  crest  of  the  road,  before  it  plunged  down  towards 
the  coast,  was  a  waggon  lying  against  the  hedge,  with 
the  horses  gone  :  and  beside  it,  stretch'd  across  the  road, 
an  old  woman.  Stopping,  we  found  her  dead,  with 
a  sword-thrust  through  the  left  breast ;  and  inside  the 
waggon  a  young  man  lying,  with  his  jaw  bound  up, 
—dead  also.  And  how  this  sad  spectacle  happened  here, 
80  far  from  the  battle-field,  was  more  than  we  could 
guess. 

I  was  moving  away,  when  Billy,  that  was  kneeling 
in  the  road,  chanced  to  cast  his  eyes  up  towards  the  sea, 
and  dropping  the  dead  woman's  hand  scrambled  on  his 
feet  and  stood  looking,  with  a  puzzled  face. 

Following  his  gaze,  I  saw  a  small  sloop  moving 
under  shorten'd  canvas,  about  two  miles  from  the  land. 
She  made  a  pleasant  sight,  with  the  last  rays  of  sun- 
light flaming  on  her  sails  :  but  for  Billy's  perturbation 
I  could  not  account,  so  turn'd  an  enquiring  glance 
to  him. 

"  Suthin'  i'  the  wind  out  yonder/'  was  his  answer ; 
"  What's  a  sloop  doing  on  that  ratch  so  close  in  by  the 
point?     Be  dang'dl   but  there  she  goes  again; 


I   MBar   WITH    A    HAPPY    ADVENTUR*.  259 

the  little  vessel  swung  off  a  point  or  two  further  from 
the  breeze,  that  was  breathing  softly  up  Channel. 
"Time  to  sup,  lad,  for  the  both  of  us,^'  he  broke 
off  shortly. 

Indeed,  I  was  faint  with  hunger  by  this  time,  yet 
had  no  stomach  to  eat  thus  close  to  the  dead.  So 
turning  into  a  gate  on  our  left  hand,  we  crossed  two  or 
three  fields,  and  sat  down  to  sup  off  Billy's  biscuits, 
the  mare  standing  quietly  beside  us,  and  cropping  the 
short  grass. 

The  field  where  we  now  found  ourselves  ran  out 
along  the  top  of  a  small  promontory,  and  ended,  with- 
out fence  of  any  sort,  at  the  cliff's  edge.  As  I  sat 
looking  southward,  I  could  only  observe  the  sloop  by 
turning  my  head  :  but  Billy,  who  squatted  over  against 
me,  hardly  took  his  eyes  off  her,  and  between  this  and 
his  meal  was  too  busy  to  speak  a  word.  For  me,  I  had 
enough  to  do  thinking  over  the  late  fight :  and  being 
near  worn  out,  had  half  a  mind  to  spend  the  night  there 
on  the  hard  turf :  for,  though  the  sun  was  now  down 
and  the  landscape  grey,  yet  the  air  was  exceeding 
warm  :  and  albeit,  as  I  have  said,  there  breath'd  a  light 
breeze  now  and  then,  'twas  hardly  cool  enough  to  dry 
the  sweat  off  me.  So  I  stretched  myself  out,  and  found 
it  very  pleasant  to  lie  still ;  nor,  when  Billy  stood  up 


1160  THJI    SPLENDID   8PUA 

and  sauntered  off  towards  the  far  end  of  the  headland, 
did  I  stir  more  than  to  turn  mj  head  and  lazily  watch 
him. 

He  was  gone  half-an-hour  at  the  least,  and  the  sky 
by  this  time  was  so  dark,  that  I  had  lost  sight  of  him, 
when,  rising  on  my  elbow  to  look  around,  I  noted 
a  curious  red  glow  at  a  point  where  the  turf  broke  off, 
not  three  hundred  yards  behind  me,  and  a  thin  smoke 
curling  up  in  it,  as  it  seemM,  from  the  very  face  of  the 
cliff  below.  In  a  minute  or  so  the  smoke  ceased 
almost ;  but  the  shine  against  the  sky  continued  steady, 
tho'  not  very  strong.  "  Billy  has  lit  a  fire,'*  I  guessed, 
and  was  preparing  to  go  and  look,  when  I  spied  a  black 
form  crawling  towards  me,  and  presently  saw  'twas 
Billy  himself. 

Coming  close,  he  halted,  put  a  finger  to  his  lip 
and  beckoned  •  then  began  to  lead  the  way  back  as 
he  had  come. 

Thought  I,  "  these  are  queer  doings  : "  but  left 
Molly  to  browse,  and  crept  after  him  on  hands  and 
knees.  He  turn'd  his  head  once  to  make  sure  1  was 
following,  and  then  scrambled  on  quicker,  but  softly, 
towards  the  point  where  the  red  glow  was  shining. 

Once  more  he  pull'd  up — as  I  judg'd,  about  twelve 
paces'  dista.nce  from  the  edge — and  after  considering  for 


I    KBIT    WITH    ▲    HAPPT    A-DVBNTtIB,S.  261 

a  second,  began  to  move  again;  only  now  he  worked  a 
little  to  the  right.  And  soon  I  saw  the  intention  of 
this :  for  just  here  the  cliffs  lip  was  cleft  by  a  fissure 
— very  like  that  in  Scawfell  which  we  were  used  to  call 
the  Lord'*  Rake,  only  narrower — that  ran  back  into  the 
field  and  shelved  out  gently  at  the  top,  so  that  a  man 
might  easily  scramble  some  way  down  it,  tho'  how  far 
I  could  not  then  tell.  And  'twas  from  this  fissure  that 
the  glow  came. 

Along  the  right  lip  of  this  BOly  led  me,  skirting  it 
by  a  couple  of  yards,  and  wriggling  on  his  belly  like 
a  blind-worm.  Crawling  closer  now  (for  'twas  hard 
to  see  bi'm  against  the  black  turf),  I  stopped  beside  him 
and  strove  to  quiet  the  violence  of  my  breathing.  Then, 
after  a  minute's  pause,  together  we  pulled  ourselves  to 
the  edge,  and  peer'd  over. 

The  descent  of  the  guUy  was  broken,  some  eight  feet 
below  us,  by  a  small  ledge,  sloping  outwards  about  sir 
feet  (as  I  guess),  and  screened  by  branches  of  the  wild 
tamarisk.  At  the  back,  in  an  angle  of  the  solid  rock, 
was  now  set  a  pan  pierced  with  holes,  and  full  of 
burning  charcoal :  and  over  this  a  man  in  the  rebels* 
uniform  was  stooping. 

He  had  a  small  paper  parcel  in  his  left  hand,  and  was 
blowing  at  the  charcoal  with  all  his  might.     Holding 


ill  m  iPLiNVED  trwi. 

my  breath,  I  heard  him  clearly,  but  could  eoe  nothing  of 
his  face,  for  his  back  was  towards  us,  all  sable  against 
the  glow.  The  charcoal  fumes  as  they  rose  chofd  me 
80,  that  I  was  very  near  a  fit  of  coughing,  when  Billy 
laid  one  hand  on  my  shoulder,  and  with  the  other  pointed 
out  to  sea- ward. 

Looking  that  way,  I  saw  a  small  light  shining  on 
the  sea,  pretty  close  in.  'Twae  a  lantern  hung  out  from 
the  sloop,  as  I  concluded  on  the  instant :  and  now  I 
began  to  have  an  inkling  of  what  was  toward. 

But  looking  down  again  at  the  man  with  the 
charcoal-pan  I  saw  a  black  head  of  hair  lifted,  and 
then  a  pair  of  red  pufPd  cheeks,  and  a  pimpled  nose 
with  a  scar  across  the  bridge  of  it — all  shining  in  the 
glare  of  the  pan. 

"  Powers  of  Heaven  !  "  I  gasped  ;  "  'tis  that  bloody 
villain  Luke  Settle  !  " 

And  springing  to  my  feet,  I  took  a  jump  over  the 
edge  and  came  sprawling  on  top  of  him.  The  scoundrel 
was  stooping  with  his  nose  close  to  the  pan,  and  had  not 
time  to  turn  before  I  lit  with  a  thud  on  his  shoulders, 
flattening  him  on  the  ledge  and  nearly  sending  his  face 
on  top  of  the  live  coals.  'Twas  so  sudden  that,  before 
he  coidd  so  much  as  think,  my  fingers  were  about  his 
windpipe,  and  the  both  of   us    struggling    flat    on    the 


I    MEET    WITH    A    HAPPY    ADVENTimB.  268 

brink  of  the  precipice.  For  he  had  a  bulPs  strength, 
and  heaved  and  kicked,  so  that  I  fully  looked,  next 
moment,  to  be  flying  over  the  edge  into  the  sea :  nor 
could  I  loose  my  grip  to  get  out  a  pistol,  but  only 
held  on  and  worked  my  fingers  in,  and  thought  how 
he  had  strangled  the  mastiff  that  night  on  the  bowling- 
green,  and  vowed  to  serve  him  the  same  if  only  strength 
held  out. 

But  now,  just  as  he  had  almost  twisted  his  neck 
free,  I  heard  a  stone  or  two  break  away  above  us, 
and  down  came  Billy  Pottery  flying  atop  of  us,  and 
pinned  us  to  the  ledge. 

'Twas  short  work  now.  Within  a  minute.  Captain 
Luke  Settle  was  turned  on  his  back,  his  eyes  fairly 
starting  with  Billyhs  clutch  on  his  throat,  his  mouth 
wide  open  and  gasping ;  till  I  slipped  the  nozzle  of  my 
pistol  between  his  teeth ;  and  with  that  he  had  no  more 
chance,  but  gave  in,  and  like  a  lamb  submitted  to  have 
his  arms  trussM  behind  him  with  Billyhs  leathern  belt, 
and  his  legs  with  his  own. 

"  Now,''  said  I,  standing  over  him,  and  putting  the 
pistol  against  his  temple,  "you  and  I,  Master  Turn- 
coat Settle,  have  some  accounts  that  'twould  be  well  to 
square.  So  first  tell  me,  what  do  you  here,  and  where 
is  Mistress  Delia  Killigrew?'* 


264  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

I  think  that  till  this  moment  the  bully  had  no  idea 
his  assailants  were  more  than  a  chance  couple  of  Cornish 
troopers.  But  now  seeing  the  glow  of  the  burning 
charcoal  on  my  face,  he  ripped  out  a  horrid  blasphemous 
curse,  and  straightway  fell  to  speaking  calmly. 

"  Good  sirs,  the  game  is  yours,  with  care.  S'lid  I 
but  you  hold  a  pretty  hand — if  only  you  know  how  to 
play  it," 

"  'Tis  you  shall  help  me,  Captain  :  but  let  us  be 
clear  about  the  stakes.  For  you,  'tis  life  or  death  :  for 
me,  'tis  to  regain  Mistress  Delia,  failing  which  I  shoot 
you  here  through  the  head,  and  topple  y^u  into  the  sea. 
You  are  the  Knave  of  trumps,  sir,  and  I  play  that 
card  :  as  matters  now  stand,  only  the  Queen  can  save 
you." 

"  Right :  but  where  be  King  and  Ace  ?  " 

"  The  King  is  the  Cornish  army,  yonder  :  the  Ace 
is  my  pistol  here,  which  I  hold." 

"  And  that's  a  very  pretty  comprehension  of  the 
game,  sir  :  I  play  the  Queen," 

"  Where  is  she  ?  " 

For  answer,  he  pointed  seaward,  where  the  sloc'p'i 
lantern  lay  like  a  floating  star  on  the  black  waters. 

"  What!  "  cried  I.  "  Mistress  Delia  in  that  sloovl 
And  who  is  with  her,  pray  ?  " 


I    MEET   WITH    A    HAPPY   ADVENTUBJS.  266 


it 


Why,  Black  Dick,  to  begin  with — and  Reuben 
Gedges — and  Jeremy  Toy." 

"  All  the  Knaves  left  in  the  pack — God  help  her !  " 
I  muttered,  as  I  looked  out  towards  the  light,  and  my 
heart  beat  heavily.  "  God  help  her  ! "  I  said  again,  and 
turning,  spied  a  grin  on  the  Captain's  face. 

"  Under  Providence,*'  answered  he,  "  your  un- 
worthy servant  may  suffice.  But  what  is  my  reward 
to  be  ?  " 

"  Your  neck,"  said  I,  "  if  I  can  save  ?t  when  you 
are  led  before  the  Cornish  captains/' 

"  That's  fair  enough  :  so  listen.  These  few  months 
the  lady  has  been  shut  in  Bristol  keep,  whither,  by  the 
advice  of  our  employer,  we  conveyed  her  back  safe  and 
sound.     This  same  employer " 

"  A  dirty  rogue,  whom  you  may  as  well  call  by  his 
name — Hannibal  Tingcomb." 

"  Right,  young  sir  :  a  very  dirty  rogue,  and  a  nig- 
gardly : — I  hate  a  mean  rascal.  Well,  fearing  her 
second  escape  from  that  prison,  and  being  hand  in  glove 
with  the  Parliament  men,  he  gets  her  on  board  a  sloop 
bound  for  the  Virginias,  just  at  the  time  when  he  knows 
the  Earl  of  Stamford  is  to  march  and  crush  the  Cornish- 
men.  For  escort  she  has  the  three  comrades  of  mine 
that  I  named ;    and  the  captain  of  the  sloop  (a  fellow 


266  THB    8P1.ENDID    8?U», 

that  asks  no  (questions)  has  orders  U)  cruise  along  the 
coast  hereabouts  till  he  get  news  of  the  battle/' 

"  Which  you  were  just  now  about  to  give  him/* 
cried  I,  suddenly  enlightened. 

"Right  again.  'Twas  a  pretty  scheme:  for — d'ye 
see  ? — if  all  went  well  with  the  Earl  of  Stamford,  the 
King's  law  would  be  wiped  out  in  Cornwall,  and  Master 
Tingcomb  (with  his  claims  and  meritorious  services) 
might  snap  his  thumb  thereat.  So,  in  that  case.  Mis- 
tress Delia  was  to  be  brought  ashore  here  and  taken  to 
him,  to  serve  as  he  fancied.  But  if  the  day  should  go 
against  us — as  it  has — she  was  to  sail  to  the  Virginias 
with  the  sloop,  and  there  be  sold  as  a  slave.  Or  worse 
might  happen ;  but  I  swear  that  is  the  worst  was  ever 
told  me." 

"  God  knows  'tis  vile  enough,"  said  I,  scarce  able 
to  refrain  from  blowing  his  brains  out.  "  So  you  were 
to  follow  the  Earl's  army,  and  work  the  signals. 
Which  are  they  ?  "  For  a  quick  resolve  had  come 
into  my  head,  and  I  was  casting  about  to  put  it  into 
execution. 

"  A  green  light  if  we  won  :  if  not,  a  red  light,  to 
warn  the  sloop  away." 

I  picked  up  the  packet  that  had  dropp'd  from  his 
hand    when    first   I  sprang  upon   him.      It  was  burst 


I    MEET    WITH    A    HAPPT    aDVBNTURJI,  *H7 

abroad,  and  a   brown  powder  trickling  from    it    about 
the  ledge. 

'^  This  was  the  red  light — ^to  be  sprinkled  on  the 
burning  charcoal,  I  suppose  ?  " 

The  fellow  nodded.  At  the  same  moment,  Billy 
(who  a«i  yet  had  not  spoke  a  word,  and  of  course,  under- 
stood nothing)  thrust  into  my  hand-  another  packet  that 
he  had  found  stuck  in  a  corner  against  the  rock. 

"  Now  tell  me — in  case  the  rebels  won,  where  was 
the  landing  to  be  made  ?  " 

''In  the  cove  below  here — where  the  road  leads  down." 
"  Aye,  the  road  where  the  waggon  stood. '* 
Captain  Luke  Settle  blink'd  his  eyes  at  this :    but 
nodded  aftc*  a  moment. 

'*  And  how  many  would  escort  her  ?  " 
He  caught  my  drift  and  laughed  softly — 
"  Be  damn'd,  sir,  but  I  begin  to  love  you,  for  you 
play  the  game  very  proper  and  soundly.  Reuben, 
Jeremy,  and  Black  Dick  alone  are  in  the  plot ;  so  why 
should  more  escort  her?  For  the  skipper  and  crew  have 
their  own  business  to  look  after.*' 

"  Then,  Master  Settle,  tho'  it  be  a  sore  trial  to  you, 
those  three  Knaves  you  must  give  me,  or  I  play  my  Ace,*' 
and  I  pressed  the  ring  of  my  pistol  sharply  against  his 
ear  as  a  reminder. 


268  THB    SPLENDID    SPTTR. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  young  sir,  you  shall  have 
them/'  says  he  briskly. 

"And  this  is  'honour  among  thieves,*  "  thought  I : 
"  You  would  sell  your  comrade  as  you  sold  your  King  :  " 
but  only  said,  "  If  you  cry  out,  or  speak  one  word  to 
warn  them '* 

Before  I  could  get  my  sentence  out,  Billy  Pottery 
broke  in  with  a  voice  like  a  trumpet — 

"  As  folks  go.  Jack,  I  be  a  humorous  man.  But 
sittin'  here,  an'  ponderin'  this  way  an'  that,  I  says,  in 
my  deaf  an'  afflicted  style,  '  Why  not  shoot  the  ugly 
rogue,  if  mirth,  indeed,  be  your  object  ? '  For  to  wait  till 
an  uglier  comes  to  this  untravell'd  spot  is  superfluity." 

How  to  explain  matters  to  Billy  was  more  than  I 
could  tell :  but  in  a  moment  he  himself  supplied  the 
means.  For  the  rocks  here  were  of  some  kind  of  slate, 
very  hard,  but  scaly  :  and  finding  two  pieces,  a  large 
and  a  small,  he  handed  them  to  me,  bawling  that  I 
was  to  write  therewith.  So  giving  him  my  pistol,  I 
made  shift  to  scribble  a  few  words.  Seeing  his  eyes 
twinkle  as  he  read,  I  stood  up. 

The  charcoal  by  this  time  was  a  glowing  mass  of  red : 
and  threw  so  clear  a  light  on  us  that  I  feared  the  crew 
on  board  the  sloop  might  see  our  forms  and  suspect 
their  misadventure.    3ut  the  lantern  still  hung  steadily: 


I   MJBET    WITH   A    HAPPY    ADVBNTXJEB.  269 

80  signing  to  Billy  to  drag  our  prisoner  behind  a  tama- 
risk bush,  I  opened  the  second  packet,  and  poured  some 
of  the  powder  into  my  hand. 

It  was  composed  of  tiny  crystals,  yellow  and  flaky  : 
and  holding  it,  for  a  moment  I  was  possessed  with  a 
horrid  fear  that  this  might  h^  he  signal  to  warn  the 
sloop  away.  I  flung  a  look  at  the  Captain :  who  read 
my  thoughts  on  the  instant. 

"  Never  fear,  young  sir :  am  no  such  hero  as  to  sell 
my  life  for  that  tag-rag.  Only  make  haste,  for  your 
deaf  friend  has  a  cursed  ugly  way  of  fumbling  his 
pistol.*' 

So  taking  heart,  I  tore  the  packet  wide,  and  shook 
out  the  powder  on  the  coals. 

Instantly  there  came  a  dense  choking  vapour,  and  a 
vivid  green  flare  that  turned  the  rocks,  the  sky,  and  our 
faces  to  a  ghastly  brilliance.  For  two  minutes,  at  least, 
this  unnatural  light  lasted.  As  soon  as  it  died  away 
and  the  fumes  cleared,  I  looked  seaward. 

The  lantern  on  the  sloop  was  moving  in  answer  to 
the  signal.  Three  times  it  was  lifted  and  lower'd  :  and 
then  in  the  stillness  I  heard  voices  calling,  and  soon 
after  the  regular  splash  of  oars. 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost.  Pulling  the  Captain 
to  his  feet,  we  scrambled  up  the  gully,  and  out  at  the 


270  THl    SPLENDID    SPUl. 

top,  and  across  the  fields  as  fast  as  our  legs  would  tak« 
us.  Molly  came  to  my  call  and  trotted  beside  me — the 
Captain  following  some  paces  behind,  and  Billy  last,  to 
keep  a  safe  watch  on  his  movements. 

At  the  gate,  however,  where  we  turned  into  the  road, 
1  tethered  the  mare,  lest  the  sound  of  her  hoofs  should 
betray  us  :  and  down  towards  the  sea  we  pelted,  till 
almost  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  I  pull'd  up  and  listen'd, 
the  others  following  my  example. 

We  could  hear  the  sound  of  oars  plain  above  the 
wash  of  waves  on  the  beach.  I  look'd  about  me.  On 
either  side  the  road  was  now  banked  by  tall  hills,  with 
clusters  of  bracken  and  furze  bushes  lying  darkly  on 
their  slopes.  Behind  one  of  these  clusters  I  stationed 
Billy  with  the  Captain's  long  sword,  and  a  pistol  that  I 
by  signs  forbade  him  to  fire  unless  in  extremity.  Then, 
retiring  some  forty  paces  up  the  road,  I  hid  the  Cap- 
tain and  myself  on  the  other  side. 

Hardly  were  we  thus  disposed,  before  I  heard  the 
sound  of  a  boat  grounding  on  the  beach  below,  and  the 
murmur  of  voices ;  and  then  the  noise  of  feet  trampling 
the  shingle.  Upon  which  I  ordered  my  prisoner  to  give 
ft  hail,  which  he  did  readily. 

"  Ahoy,  Dick  !     Ahoy,  Reuben  Geddes  I  " 

In  a  moment  or  two  came  the  answer— 


I    IIXIT   WITH   A   HAJPyT    ADrMHeiiiMM.  Hi 

"  Ahoy,  there,  Captain — here  we  be  i  *' 

"  Fetch  along  the  cargo  ! "  shouted  Captain  Settle, 
on  my  prompting. 

"Where  be  you?" 

"  Up  the  road,  here — waiting ! " 

"  One  minute,  then — wait  one  minute.  Captain  1 " 

I  heard  the  boat  push'd  off,  some  Good-nights  calFd, 
and  then  (with  tender  anguish)  the  voice  of  my  Delia 
lifted  in  entreaty.  As  I  guess'd,  she  was  beseeching 
the  sailors  to  take  her  back  to  the  sloop,  nor  leave  her 
to  these  villains.  There  followed  an  oath  or  two  growl'd 
out,  a  short  scrimmage,  and  at  last,  above  the  splash  of 
the  retreating  boat,  came  the  tramp  of  heavy  feet  on  the 
road  below. 

So  fired  was  I  at  the  sound  of  Delia's  voice,  that 
'twas  with  much  ado  I  kept  quiet  behind  the  bush. 
Yet  I  had  wit  enough  left  to  look  to  the  priming  of  my 
pistol,  and  also  to  bid  the  Captain  shout  again.  As  he 
did  so,  a  light  shone  out  down  the  road,  and  round  the 
comer  came  a  man  bearing  a  lantern. 

*'  Can*t  be  quicker.  Captain,"  he  called :  "  the  jade 
struggles  so  that  Dick  and  Jeremy  ha'  their  hands 
fuU." 

Sure  enough,  after  him  there  came  in  view  two 
stooping  forms  that  bore  my  dear  maid  between  them — 


27*  7H1    8PL1NDTB    STTTl 

one  by  the  feet,  the  other  by  the  shouklerw  I  ground 
my  teeth  to  see  it,  for  she  writhed  sorely  On  they 
came,  however,  until  not  more  than  ten  paces  off; 
and  then  that  traitor,  Luke  Settle,  rose  up  behind  our 
bush. 

"  Set  her  here,  boys,"  said  he,  "  and  tie  her  pretty 
ankles." 

"Well  met,  Captain  I"  said  the  fellow  with  the 
lantern — Reuben  Geddes — stepping  forward  •  "  Give  us 
your  hand  I  *' 

He  was  holding  out  his  own,  when  1  sprang  up,  set 
the  pistol  close  to  his  chest,  and  fired.  His  scream 
mingled  with  the  roar  of  it,  and  dropping  the  lantern, 
ke  threw  up  his  hands  and  tumbled  in  a  heap.  At  the 
same  moment,  out  went  the  light,  and  the  other  rascals, 
dropping  Delia,  tumM  to  run,  crying,  "  Sold — sold  I  " 

But  behind  them  came  now  a  shout  from  Billy,  and 
a  crashing  blow  that  almost  severed  Black  Dick's  arm 
at  the  shoulder  :  and  at  the  same  instant  I  was  on 
Master  Toy's  collar,  and  had  him  down  in  the  dust. 
Kneeling  on  his  chest,  with  my  sword-point  at  his 
throat,  I  had  leisure  to  glance  at  Billy,  who  in  the  dark, 
seem'd  to  be  sitting  on  the  head  of  his  disabled  victim. 
And  then  I  felt  a  touch  on  my  shoulder,  and  a  deal 
face  peer'd  into  mine. 


I   MEET   WITH    ▲    HAPPY    ADVENTUBJI.  278 


t{ 


» 


Is  it  Jack — my  sweet  Jack  ? 

"  To  be  sure,"  said  I :  "  and  if  you  but  reacn  out 
y  )ur  hand,  I  will  kiss  it,  for  all  that  I'm  busy  with  this 
rogue." 

**  Nay,  Jack,  Fll  kiss  thee  on  the  cheek — so  I  Dear 
lad,   I   am    so   frightened,   and    yet   could    laugh   for 

joy  1 " 

But  now  I  caught  the  sound  of  galloping  on  the 
road  above,  and  shouts,  and  then  more  galloping ;  and 
down  came  a  troop  of  horsemen  that  were  like  to  have 
ridden  over  us,  had  I  not  shouted  lustily. 

"  Who,  in  the  fiend's  name  is  here  ?  "  shouted  the 
foremost,  pulling  in  his  horse  with  a  scramble. 

"  Honest  men  and  rebels  together,'*  I  answered ; 
"  but  light  the  lantern  that  you  will  find  handy  by,  and 
you  shall  know  one  from  t'other." 

By  the  time  'twas  found  and  lit,  there  was  a  dozen 
of  Col.  John  Digby's  dragoons  about  us  :  and  before  the 
two  villains  were  bound,  comes  a  half-dozen  more,  lead- 
ing in  Captain  Settle,  that  had  taken  to  his  heels  at  the 
first  blow  and  climb'd  the  hill,  all  tied  as  he  was  about 
the  hands,  and  was  caught  in  his  endeavour  to  clamber 
on  Molly's  back.  So  he  and  Black  Dick  and  Jeremy 
Toy  were  strapp'd  up  :  but  Reuben  Geddes  we  left  on 
the  road  for  a  oorpse.  Yet  he  did  not  die  (though  shot 
t 


274  THl    8PLJBNDIU   8PUA. 

through  the  lung),  but  recovered — heaven  knows  howj 
and  I  myself  had  the  pleasure  to  see  him  hanged  at 
Tyburn,  in  the  second  year  of  his  late  Majesty's  most 
blessed  Restoration,  for  stopping  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury*« 
coach,  in  Maidenhead  Thicket,  and  robbing  the  Bishop 
himself,  with  much  added  contumely. 

But  as  we  were  ready  to  start,  and  I  was  holding 
Delia  steady  on  Molly's  back,  up  comes  Billy  and 
bawls  in  my  ear — 

"  There's  a  second  horse,  if  wanted,  that  I  spied 
tether'd  under  a  hedge  yonder  " — and  he  pointed  to  the 
field  where  we  had  first  foimd  Captain  Settle — "  in 
colour  a  sad  black,  an'  harness'd  like  as  if  he  came  from 
a  cart.*' 

I  looked  at  the  Captain,  who  in  the  light  of  the 
lantern  blink'd  again.  "Thou  bloody  villain  !  "  muttered 
I,  for  now  I  read  the  tragedy  of  the  waggon  beside  the 
road,  and  knew  how  Master  Settle  had  provided  a  horse 
for  his  own  escape. 

But  hereupon  the  word  was  given,  and  we  started  up 
the  hill,  I  walking  by  Delia's  stirrup  and  listening  to  her 
talk  as  if  we  had  never  been  parted — yet  with  a  ten- 
derer joy,  having  by  lo&s  of  it  learnt  to  appraise  my 
happiness  aright. 


t7S 


CHAPTEK    XVm. 

JOAN    DOBS   MB    HER   LAST    SEEVICB. 

We  came,  a  little  before  midnight,  to  Sir  Bevill's  famous 
great  house  of  Stow,  near  Kilkhampton :  that  to-night 
was  brightly  lit  and  full  of  captains  and  troopers  feast- 
ing, as  well  they  needed  to,  after  the  great  victory. 
And  here,  though  loth  to  do  so,  I  left  Delia  to  the  care 
of  Lady  Grace  Grenville,  Sir  BevilFs  fond  beautiful 
wife,  and  of  all  gentlewomen  I  have  ever  seen  the  pink 
and  paragon,  as  well  for  her  loyal  heart  as  the  graces  of 
her  mind :  who,  before  the  half  of  our  tale  was  out, 
kissed  Delia  on  both  cheeks,  and  led  her  away.  "  To 
you  too,  sir,  I  would  counsel  bed,'*  said  she,  ''after 
you  have  eaten  and  drunk,  and  especially  given  God 
thanks  for  this  day's  work/' 

Sir  Bevill  I  did  not  see,  but  striding  down  into  the 
hall,  picked  my  way  among  the  drinking  and  drunken ; 
the  servants  hurrying  with  dishes  of  roast  and  baked 
and  great  tankards  of  beer ;  the  swords  and  pikes  flung 
down  under  the  forms  and  settles,  and  sticking  out  to 
trip  a  man  up ;  and  at  length  found  a  groom  who  led 
me  to  a  loft  over  one  of  the  barns :  and  here,  above  a 
■  2 


270  THl    SPLENDID    8PD&. 

mattress  of  bay,  I  slept  the  first  time  for  many  months 
between  fresh  linen  that  smelt  of  lavender,  and  in  think- 
ing how  pleasant  'twas,  dropped  sound  asleep. 

Sure  there  is  no  better,  sweeter  couch  than  this 
of  linen  spread  over  hay.  Early  in  the  morning,  I  woke 
with  wits  clear  as  water,  and  not  an  ache  or  ounce  of 
weariness  in  my  bones  :  and  after  washing  at  the  pump 
below,  went  in  search  of  breakfast  and  Sir  Bevill.  The 
one  I  found,  ready  laid,  in  the  hall ;  the  other  seated  in 
his  writing-room,  studying  in  a  map :  and  with  apology 
for  my  haste,  handed  him  Master  Tingcomb's  con- 
fession and  told  my  story. 

When  'twas  over,  Sir  Bevill  sat  pondering,  and  after 
a  while  said,  very  frankly — 

"  As  a  magistrate  I  can  give  this  warrant ;  and 
'twould  be  a  pleasure,  for  well,  as  a  boy,  do  I  re- 
member  Deakin    Killigrew.     Young   sir "  he  rose 

up,  and  taking  a  turn  across  the  room,  came  and 
laid  a  hand  on  my  shoulder,  "  I  have  seen  his  daughter. 
Is  it  too  late  to  warn  you  against  loving  her  ?  " 

"  Why  yes,"  I  answer'd  blushing :  "  I  think  it 
is." 

"  She  seems  both  sweet  and  quaint.  God  forbid  I 
should  say  a  word  against  one  that  has  so  taken  me  I 
But  in  these  times  a  man  should  stand  alone  :  to  make  a 


JOAN    DOES    MB    HER    LAST    SERVICE.  E77 

friend  is  to  run  the  chance  of  a  soft  heart :  to  marry  a 
wife  makes  the  chance  sure " 

He  broke  off,  and  went  on  again  with  a  change  of 
tone — 

"  For  many  reasons  I  would  bhthely  issue  this 
warrant.  But  how  am  I  to  spare  men  to  carry  it  out  ? 
At  any  moment  we  may  be  assailM." 

**  If  that  be  your  concern,  sir,'*  answered  I,  "  give 
me  the  warrant.  I  have  a  good  friend  here,  a  seafaring 
man,  whose  vessel  lies  at  this  moment  in  Looe  Haven, 
with  a  crew  on  board  that  will  lay  Master  Tingcomb  by 
the  heels  in  a  trice.  Within  three  days  we'll  have  him 
clapt  in  Launceston  Gaol,  and  there  at  the  next  Assize 
you  shall  sit  on  the  Grand  Jury  and  hear  his  case,  by 
which  time,  I  hope,  the  King's  law  shall  run  on  easier 
wheels  in  Cornwall.  The  prisoners  we  bave  already  I 
leave  you  to  deal  withal :  only,  against  my  will,  I 
must  claim  some  mercy  for  that  rogue,  Settle.'' 

To  this  Sir  Bevill  consented ;  and,  to  be  short,  the 
three  knaves  were  next  morning  pack'd  off  to  Launces- 
ton :  but  in  time,  no  evidence  being  brought  against 
them,  regain'd  their  freedom,  which  they  used  to  come 
to  the  gallows,  each  in  his  own  way.  Their  doings 
no  longer  concern  this  history,  and  so  I  gladly  leave 
them. 


278  THR    RPLRNT)ID    SPTTR. 

To  return,  then,  to  my  proper  tale,  'twas  not  ten 
minutes  before  I  had  the  warrant  in  my  pocket.  And 
by  eleven  o'clock  (word  having^  been  carried  to  Delia,  and 
our  plans  laid  before  Billy  Pottery,  who  on  the  spot  en- 
gaged himself  to  help  us)  our  horses  were  brought  round 
to  the  gate,  and  my  mistress  appearM,  all  ready  for  the 
journey.  For  tho'  assured  that  the  work  needed  not  her 
presence,  and  that  she  had  best  wait  at  Stow  till  Master 
Tingcomb  was  smok'd  out  of  his  nest,  she  would  have 
none  of  it,  but  was  set  on  riding  with  me  to  see  justice 
done  on  this  fellow,  of  whose  villainy  I  had  told  her 
much  the  night  before.  And  glad  I  was  of  her  choice, 
as  I  saw  her  standing  on  the  entrance  steps,  fresh  as  a 
rose,  and  in  a  fit  habit  once  more  :  for  Lady  Grace  had 
lent  not  only  her  own  bay  horse,  but  also  a  riding-dress 
and  hat  of  grey  velvet  to  equip  her :  and  stood  in  the 
porch  to  wish  us  God-speed !  while  Sir  Bevill  helpM 
Delia  to  the  saddle. 

So,  with  Billy  tramping  behind  ub,  away  we  rode  up 
the  combe,  where  Kilkhampton  tower  stood  against  the 
sky ;  and  turning  to  wave  hands  at  the  top,  found  our 
host  and  hostess  still  by  the  gate,  watching  ua,  with 
hands  rais'd  to  shield  their  eyes  from  the  sun. 

The  whole  petty  tale  of  this  day's  ride  I  shall  not  dwell 
upon.      Indeed,  I  soArcely  not^l  the  miles  a«  f  hey  pass'd. 


mAJ»  nam  o  i^jsil  lab-t  m&nc»^.  27V 

For  all  the  way  we  were  chattering,  Delia  telling  me 
how  Captain  Settle  and  his  gang  had  harried  her 
(tho'  without  indignity)  across  Dartmoor  to  Ashburton, 
thence  to  Ljrnton  in  North  Devon,  and  so  along  the 
coast  of  Somerset  to  Bristol ;  how  they  there  produced 
a  paper,  at  sight  of  which  Sir  Nathaniel  Fiennes,  the 
new  Governor,  kept  her  under  lock  and  key.  And 
thus  she  remained  four  months,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
they  conveyed  her  on  board  a  sloop,  called  the  Fortitude^ 
and  bound  for  the  Virginias,  with  the  result  that  has 
been  told.  To  ail  of  which  1  listen'd  greedily,  stealing 
from  time  to  time  a  look  at  her  shape,  thai  ou  horseback 
was  graceful  as  a  willow,  and  into  her  eyes  that,  under 
the  dapping  grey  brim,  were  gay  and  fancy-free  as 
ever. 

**  And  did  you,"  asked  I,  "  never  at  heart  chide  me 
for  leaving  you  so !  " 

"  Why  no.  I  never  took  thee  for  a  conjurer. 
Jack/' 

"  But,  at  least,  you  thought  of  me,"  I  urged. 

"  Oh,  dear — oh,  dear  ! ''  She  puUM  rein  and  look'd 
at.  me  :  "  I  remember  now  that  last  night  I  kiss'd  thee. 
Forget  it.  Jack :  last  night,  so  glad  was  I  to  be  sav'd, 
I  could  have  kiss'd  a  cobbler.  Indeed,  Jack,''  she 
went  on  seriously,  "  I  would  that  some  maid  had  got 


280  VHB    SPLBNDID    IPUY. 

hold  of   thee,  in   all   these   months,  to  cure  thj  sillj 
notions  I " 

At  Launceston,  Billy  Pottery  took  leave  of  ui : 
and  now  went,  due  south,  towards  Looe,  with  a 
light  purse  and  lighter  heart,  undertaking  that  his  ship 
should  lit  ofE  Gleys,  with  her  crew  ready  for  action, 
within  eight-and-forty  hours.  Delia  and  I  rode  faster 
now  towards  the  south-west :  and  having  by  this  time 
recovered  my  temper,  I  was  recounting  my  flight  along 
this  very  road,  when  I  heard  a  sound  that  brought  my 
heart  into  my  mouth. 

'Twas  the  blast  of  a  bugle,  and  came  from  behind 
the  hill  in  front  of  us.  And  at  the  same  moment  I 
understood.  It  must  be  Sir  George  Chudleigh's  cavalry 
returning,  on  news  of  their  comrades'  defeat,  and  we 
were  riding  straight  towards  them,  as  into  a  trap. 

Now  what  could  have  made  me  forgetful  of  this 
danger  I  cannot  explain,  unless  it  be  that  our  thorough 
victory  over  the  rebels  had  given  me  the  notion  that  the 
country  behind  us  was  clear  of  foes.  And  Sir  Bevill 
must  have  had  a  notion  we  were  going  straight  to  Looe 
with  Billy.  At  any  rate,  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost : 
for  my  presence  was  a  danger  to  Delia  as  well.  I 
cast  a  glance  about  me.     There  was  no  place  to  hide. 


JOAN    DOES    MB    HEE   LAST    SERVTOB.  281 

"  Quick  1 "  I  cried ;  "  follow  me,  and  ride  for  dear 
life  I" 

And  striking  spur  into  Molly  I  turned  sharp  off  the 
road  and  gallop'd  across  the  moor  to  the  left,  with  Delia 
close  after  me. 

We  had  gone  about  two  hundred  yards  only  when  I 
heard  a  shout,  and  glancing  over  my  right  shoulder,  saw 
a  green  banner  waving  on  the  crest  of  the  road,  and 
gathered  about  it  the  vanguard  of  the  troop — some  score 
of  dragoons :  and  these,  having  caught  sight  of  us,  were 
pausing  a  moment  to  watch. 

The  shout  presently  was  followed  by  another;  to 
which  I  made  no  answer,  but  held  on  my  way,  with  the 
nose  of  Delia's  horse  now  level  with  my  stirrup :  for  I 
guess'd  that  my  dress  had  already  betrayed  us.  And 
this  was  the  case ;  for  at  the  next  glance  I  saw  five  or 
six  dragoons  detach  themselves  from  the  main  body,  and 
gallop  in  a  direction  at  an  acute  angle  to  ours.  On 
they  came,  yelling  to  us  to  halt,  and  scattering  over  the 
moor  to  intercept  us. 

Not  choosing,  however,  to  be  driven  eastward,  I  kept 
a  straight  course  and  trusted  to  our  horses'  fleetness  to 
carry  us  by  them,  out  of  reach  of  their  shot.  In  the 
pause  of  their  first  surprise  we  had  stolen  two  hundred 
yards  more.     I  counted  and  found  eight  men  thus  in 


282  THl   8PL1NDID    8POTU 

pursuit  of  us  :  and  to  my  joy  heard  the  bugle  blown 
again,  and  saw  the  rest  of  the  troop,  now  gathering  fast 
above,  move  steadily  along  the  road  without  intention 
to  follow.  Doubtless  the  news  of  the  Cornish  success 
made  them  thus  wary  of  their  good  order. 

Still,  eight  men  were  enough  to  run  from ;  and  now 
the  nearest  let  fly  with  his  piece — more  to  frighten  us, 
belike,  than  with  any  other  view,  for  we  were  far  out 
of  range.  But  it  grew  clear  that  if  we  held  on  our 
direction  they  must  cut  us  off :  as  you  may  see  by  these 

two  arrows,  the  long  thin  one 
standing  for  our  own  course, 
the  thicker  and  shorter  for  that 
of  the  dragoons. 

Only  now  with  good  hope  I  saw  a  hill  rising  not 
half  a  mile  in  front,  and  somewhat  to  the  right  of  our 
course :  and  thought  I  "  if  we  can  gain  the  hollow  to 
the  left  of  it,  and  put  the  hill  between  us,  they  must 
ride  over  it  or  round — in  either  case  losing  much  time." 
So,  pointing  this  out  to  Delia,  who  rode  on  my  left  (to 
leave  my  pistol  arm  free  and  at  the  same  time  be 
screened  by  me  from  shot  o(  the  dragoons)  I  drove  my 
spurs  deep  and  called  to  Molly  to  make  her  best  pace. 

The  enemy  divin'd  our  purpose  :  and  in  a  minute 
'twas  a  desperate  race  for  the  entrance  to  the  hollow. 


JOAN    DOES    MB    HEK    LAST    SERVICE.  288 

But  our  horses  were  the  faster,  and  we  the  lighter  riders ; 
so  that  we  won,  with  thirty  yards  to  spare,  from  the 
foremost : — not  without  damage,  however ;  for  finding 
b'mself  baulked,  he  sent  a  bullet  at  us  which  cut  neatly 
through  my  off  rein,  so  that  my  bridle  was  henceforward 
useless  and  I  could  guide  Molly  with  knee  and  voice 
alone.  Delia's  bay  had  shied  at  the  sound  of  it,  and 
likely  enough  saved  my  mistress'  life  by  this ;  for  the 
bullet  must  have  passM  within  a  foot  before  her. 

Down  the  hollow  we  raced  with  three  dragoons  at 
our  heels,  the  rest  going  round  the  hill.  But  they  did 
little  good  by  so  doing,  for  after  the  hollow  came  a 
broad,  dismal  sheet  of  water  (by  name  Dozmare  Pool,  I 
have  since  heard)  about  a  mile  round  and  bank'd  with 
black  peat.  Galloping  along  the  left  shore  of  this,  we 
cut  them  of  by  near  half-a-mile.  But  the  three  behind 
followed  doggedly,  though  dropping  back  with  every 
stride. 

Beyond  the  pool  came  a  green  valley ;  and  a  stream 
flowing  down  it,  which  we  jumped  easily.  Glancing  at 
Delia  as  she  landed  on  the  further  side,  I  noted  that  her 
cheeks  were  glowing,  and  her  eyes  brimful  of  mirth. 

"  Say,  Jack,''  she  cried ;  "  is  not  this  better  than 
love  oi  women  ?  " 

'*  In  Heaven's  name,"  I  called  out,  "  take  care  I  " 


284)  TH«    SPLENDID    SPUa. 

But  'twas  too  late.  The  green  valley  here  melted 
into  a  treacherous  bog,  in  the  which  her  bay  was  already 
plunging  over  his  fetlocks,  and  every  moment  sinking 
deeper. 

"  Throw  me  the  rein  1  *'  I  shouted,  and  catching  the 
bridle  close  by  the  bit,  leant  over  and  tried  to  drag 
the  horse  forward.  By  this,  Molly  also  was  over  hoofs 
in  liquid  mud.  For  a  minute  and  more  we  heav'd  and 
splashed :  and  all  the  while  the  dragoons,  seeing  our  fix, 
were  shouting  and  drawing  nearer  and  nearer.  But 
just  as  a  brace  of  bullets  splashed  into  the  slough  at  our 
feet,  we  stagger'd  to  the  harder  slope,  and  were  gaining 
on  them  again.  So  for  twenty  minutes  along  the  spurs 
of  the  hills,  we  held  on,  the  enemy  falling  back  and 
hidden,  every  now  and  again,  in  the  hollows — but 
always  following :  at  the  end  of  which  time,  Delia 
calPd  from  just  behind  me — 

"  Jack — here's  a  to-do  :  the  bay  is  going  lame  ! " 

There  was  no  doubt  of  it.  I  suppose  he  must  have 
wrung  his  off  hind-leg  in  fighting  through  the  quag. 
Any  way,  ten  minutes  more  would  see  the  end  of  his 
gallop.  But  at  this  moment  we  had  won  to  the  top  of 
a  stiff  ascent :  and  now,  looking  down  at  our  feet,  I  had 
the  joyfullest  surprise. 

Twas  the  moor   of   Temple    spread    below   like   a 


WAS   DOIS   MX   HKK   LA.ST   SBKYIC8.  285 

map^  the  low  sun  striking  on  the  ruin'd  huts  to  the  left 
of  us,  on  the  roof  of  Joan's  cottage,  on  the  scar  of  the 
high-road,  and  the  sides  of  the  tall  tor  above  it. 

"  In  ten  minutes,"  said  I,  "  w«  may  be  safe." 

So  down  into  the  plain  we  hurried :  and  I  thought 
for  the  first  time  of  the  loyal  girl  waiting  in  the  cottage 
yonder;  «f  my  former  ride  into  Temple;  and  (with 
angry  shame)  of  tht  light  heart  with  which  I  left  it. 
To  what  had  the  summoning  drums  and  trumpets  led 
me  ?  Where  was  the  new  life,  then  so  carelessly  pre- 
vented? But  two  days  had  gone,  and  here  was  I 
running  to  Joan  for  help,  m  a  child  to  his  mother. 

Past  the  peat-ricks  we  struggled,  the  sheep-cotes, 
the  straggling  fences — all  so  familiar;  crossed  the 
stream  and  rode  into  the  yard. 

"  Jump  down,'*  I  whisper'd :  "  we  have  time,  and 
no  more."  Glancing  back,  I  saw  a  couple  of  dragoons 
already  coming  over  the  heights.     They  had  spied  us. 

Dismounting  I  ran  to  the  cottage  door  and  flung  it 
open.  A  stream  of  light,  flung  back  against  the  sun, 
blazed  into  my  eyes. 

I  rubbed  them  and  halted  for  a  moment  stock- 
still. 

For  Joan  stood  in  front  of  me,  drest  in  the  very 
clothes  I  had  worn  on  the  day  we  first  met — buff -coat 


i88  TH«    BFLMUDID   BtVML. 

breeches,  heavy  boots,  and  all.  Her  back  wan  towards 
me,  and  at  the  shoulder,  where  the  coat  had  beer,  cut 
away  from  my  wound,  I  saw  the  rents  all  dam'd  and 
patchM  with  pack-thread.  In  her  hand  was  the  mirror 
1  had  given  her. 

At  the  sound  of  my  step  on  the  threshold  she  tum'd 
with  a  short  cry — a  cry  the  like  of  which  I  have  never 
heard,  so  full  was  it  of  choking  joy.  The  glass  dropped 
to  the  floor  and  was  shattered.  In  a  second  her  arms 
were  about  me,  and  so  she  hung  on  my  neck,  sobbing 
and  laughing  together. 

"  'Twas  true — 'twas  true  !  Dear,  dear  Jack-^-dear 
Jack  to  come  to  me  :  hold  me  tighter,  tighter — for  my 
very  heart  is  bursting  I  *' 

And  behind  me  a  shadow  fell  on  the  doorway  :  and 
there  stood  Delia  regarding  us. 

"  Good  lad — all  yesterday  I  swore  to  be  strong  and 
wait — for  years,  if  need  be.  Fie  on  womankind,  to  be 
so  weak  !  All  day  I  sat  an'  sat,  an*  did  never  a  mite  o' 
work — never  set  hand  to  a  tool :  an'  by  sunset  I  gave 
in  an'  went,  cursing  mysel',  over  the  moor  to  War- 
leggan,  to  Alsie  Pascoe,  the  wise  woman — an'  she 
taught  me  a  charm — an'  bless  her,  bless  her,  Jack, 
for  't  hath  brought  thee  I " 

"  Joan,"    said    I,     hot    with    shame,     taking    her 


JOAN   DOES   ME   HES   LAST    SERYIGB.  287 

arms  gently  from  my  neck  :  "  listen  :  I  come  because  1 
am  chased.  Once  more  the  dragooners  are  after  me — 
not  five  minutes  away.  You  must  lend  me  a  horse,  and 
at  once.^' 

"  Nay/'  said  a  voice  in  the  doorway,  "  the  horse,  if 
lent,  is  for  me  !  " 

Joan  turn'd,  and  the  two  women  stood  looking  at 
each  other ; — the  one  with  dark  wonder,  the  other  with 
cold  disdainfulness — and  I  between  them  scarce  lifting 
my  eyes.  Each  was  beautiful  after  her  kind,  as  day 
and  night :  and  though  their  looks  crossed  for  a  full 
minute  like  drawn  blades,  neither  had  the  mastery. 
Joan  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Jack,  is  thy  mare  in  the  yard  ?  " 

I  nodded. 

"  Give  me  thy  pistols  and  thy  cloak."  She  stepped 
to  the  window -hole  at  the  end  of  the  kitchen,  and  look'd 
out.  "Plenty  o'  time,''  she  said;  and  pointed  to  the 
ladder  leading  to  the  loft  above — "  Climb  up  there,  the 
both,  and  pull  the  ladder  after.  Is't  thou,  they  want — 
or  she  ?  "  pointing  to  Delia. 

"Me  chiefly  they  would  catch,  no  doubt — being  a 
man,"  I  answer'd. 

"  Aye — bein'  a  man :  the  world's  full  o'  foUy.  Then 
Jack  do  thou  look  after  her^  an'  I'll  look  after  thee.     If 


288  TUB    SPLKNDID    SPUK. 

the   rebels   leave   thee   in   peace,  make  for   the   Jews 
Kitchen  and  there  abide  me." 

She  flung  my  cloak  about  her,  took  my  pistols  and 
went  out  at  the  door.  As  she  did  so,  the  sun  sank  and 
a  dull  shadow  swept  over  the  moor.  *'  Joan  1 "  I  cried, 
for  now  I  guessed  her  purpose  and  was  following  to 
hinder  her  :  but  she  had  caught  Molly's  bridle  and  was 
already  astride  of  her.  "  Get  back  !  "  she  call'd  softly ; 
and  then,  "  I  make  a  better  lad  than  wench.  Jack," — 
leapt  the  mare  through  a  gap  in  the  wall,  and  in  a 
moment  was  breasting  the  hill  and  galloping  for  the 
hi^h-road. 

In  less  than  a  minute,  as  it  seemed,  I  heard  a 
pounding  of  hoofs,  and  had  barely  time  to  follow  Delia 
up  the  ladder  and  pull  it  after  me,  when  two  of  the 
dragoons  rode  skurrying  by  the  house,  and  pass'd  on 
yelling.  Their  cries  were  hardly  faint  in  the  distance 
before  there  came  another  three. 

"  *A's  a  lost  man,  now,  for  sure,"  said  one  :  "  Be 
dang'd  if  'a's  not  took  the  road  back  to  Lan'son  I  " 

''  How  'bout  the  gal  ? "  ask'd  another  voice. 
"  Here's  her  horse  i'  the  yard." 

"  Drat  the  gal  1  Sam,  go  thou  an'  tackle  her : 
reckon  thou'rt  warriors  enow  for  one  'ooman." 

The  two  hastened  on :  and  presently  I  heard  the  ona 


XOAN  DOES  ME  HEK  LAST  SEKYICE.        iS^ 

they  caird  "  Sam  "  dismounting  in  the  yard.  Now 
there  was  a  window-hole  in  the  loft,  facing,  not  on  the 
yard,  but  towards  the  country  behind ;  and  running  to 
it  I  saw  that  no  more  were  following — the  other  three 
having,  as  I  suppose,  early  given  up  the  chase.  Softly 
pulling  out  a  loose  stone  or  two,  I  widened  this  hole 
till  I  could  thrust  the  ladder  out  of  it.  To  my  joy  it 
just  reached  the  ground.  I  bade  Delia  squeeze  herself 
through  and  climb  down. 

But  before  she  was  half  way  down  I  heard  a  wild 
screech  in  the  kitchen  below,  and  the  voice  of  Sam 
shrieking — 

"  Help — help  I  Lord  ha*  mercy  'pon  me — 'tis  a 
black  cat — 'tis  a  witch !  The  gal's  no  gal,  but  a 
witch  1 " 

Laughing  softly,  I  was  descending  the  ladder  when 
the  fellow  came  round  the  comer  screaming — with  Jan 
Tergagle  clavnng  at  his  back  and  spitting  murderously. 
DeHa  had  just  time  to  slip  aside,  before  he  ran  into 
the  ladder  and  brought  me  flying  on  top  of  him.  And 
there  he  lay  and  bellowed  till  I  tied  him,  and  gagg'd  his 
noise  with  a  big  stone  in  his  month  and  his  own  scarf 
tied  round  it. 

"  Come  1 "  I  whisper'd  :  for  Joan  and  her  pursuers 
were  out  of  sight.     Catching  up  her  long  skirt,  Delia 


290  THl   aiUktlDlJi  BFVX. 

followed  me,  and  up  the  tor  we  panted   together,  nor 
rested  till  we  were  safe  in  the  Jews'  Kitchen. 

"  What  think  you  of  this  for  a  hiding-place  ?  "  ask'd 
I,  with  a  laugh. 

But  Delia  did  not  laugh.  Instead,  she  faced  me  with 
blazing  eyes,  checkM  herself  and  answered,  cold  as  ice— 

"  Sir,  you  have  done  me  a  many  favours.  How  I 
have  trusted  you  in  return  it  were  best  for  you  to  re- 
member, and  for  me  to  forget.'' 

***** 

The  dark  drew  on ;  the  western  star  grew  distinct 
and  hung  flashing  over  against  our  hiding ;  and  still  we 
sat  there,  hour  after  hour,  silent,  angry,  waiting  for 
Joan's  return,  Delia  at  the  entrance  of  the  den,  chin 
on  hand,  scanning  the  heavens  and  never  once  turning 
towards  me;  I  further  inside,  with  my  arms  cross'd, 
raging  against  myseK  and  all  the  world,  yet  with  a 
sick'ning  dread  that  Joan  would  never  come  back. 

As  the  time  lagg'd  by,  this  terror  grew  and  grew. 
But,  as  I  think,  about  ten  o'clock,  I  heard  steps  coming 
over  the  turf.  I  ran  out.  'Twas  Joan  herself  and 
leading  Molly  by  the  bridle.  She  walk'd  as  if  tir'd, 
and  leaving  the  mare  at  the  entrance,  followed  me  into 
the  cave.  Glancing  round,  I  noted  that  Delia  had  slipt 
away. 


JOAN    DOES    ME    HER    LAST    SERVICE.  291 

"  Am  glad  she's  gone/'  said  Joan  shortly  :  "  How 
many  rebels  passed  this  way,  Jack  ?  " 

*'  Five,  counting  one  that  lies  gagged  and  bound, 
down  at  the  cottage/' 

"  That  leaves  four : " — she  stretched  herself  on  the 
ground  with  a  sigh — "  four  that'll  never  trouble  thee 
more,  lad." 

"Why?  how " 

"  Listen,  lad  :  sit  down  an'  let  me  rest  my  head  'pon 
thy  knee.  Oh,  Jack,  I  did  it  bravely  !  Eight  good 
miles  an'  more  I  took  the  mare — by  the  Four-hord  Cross, 
an'  across  the  moor  past  Tober  an'  Catshole,  an'  over 
Brown  Willy,  an'  round  Roughtor  to  the  nor'-west :  an' 
there  lies  the  bravest  quag — oh,  a  black,  bottomless 
hole ! — an'  into  it  I  led  them ;  an'  there  they  lie, 
every  horse,  an'  every  mother's  son,  till  Judgment 
Day." 

"Dead?" 

"Aye — an'  the  last  twain  wi'  a  bullet  apiece  in 
their  skulls.  Oh,  rare  !  Dear  heart — hold  my  head — 
so,  atween  thy  hands.  'Put  on  his  cast-ofE  duds,' 
said  Alsie,  'an'  stand  afore  the  glass,  sayin'  "Come, 
true  man  !  "  nine-an'-ninety  time.'  I  was  mortal  'feard 
o'  losin'  count ;  but  afore  I  got  to  fifty,  I  heard  thy  step 
an' — hold  me  closer,  Jack." 


292  THE    SPLENDID    SPOTU 

"  But  Joaiij  are  these  men  dead,  say  you  ?  '* 

"  Surely,  yes.  Why,  lad,  what  be  four  rebels,  up 
or  down,  to  make  this  coil  over  ?  Hast  never  axed 
after  me  !" 

"  Joan — you  are  not  hurt  ?  " 

In  the  darkness  I  sought  her  eyes,  and,  peering  int« 
them,  drew  back. 

"  Joan  I  " 

"  Hush,  lad — bend  down  thy  head,  and  let  me 
whisper.  I  went  too  near — an'  one,  that  was  over 
his  knees,  let  fly  wi'  his  musket — an*  Jack,  I  have  but 
a  minute  or  two.  Hush  lad,  hush — there's  no  call ! 
Wert  never  the  man  could  ha*  tam'd  me — art  the 
weaker,  in  a  way  :  forgie  the  word,  for  I  lov'd  thee  so, 
boy  Jack  1 " 

Her  arms  were  drawing  down  my  face  to  her :  her 
eyes  dull  with  pain. 

"  Feel,  Jack  —  there  —  over  my  right  breast.  I 
plugg'd  the  wound  wi'  a  peat  turf.  Pull  it  out, 
for  'tis  bleeding  inwards,  and  hurts  cruelly — pull  it 
out  I" 

As  I  hesitated,  she  thrust  her  own  hand  in  and  drew 
it  forth,  leaving  the  hot  blood  to  gush. 

"An'  now.  Jack,  tighter — hold  me  tighter.  Kisa 
me— oh,   what   brave   times  1      Tighter,   lad,   an'   call 


JOIN    DOBS    ME    HEK    LAST    SERVICl.  293 

wi'  me— 'Church  an'  King!'  Call,  lad— '  Church 
an' '" 

The  warm  arms  loosen'd :  the  head  sank  back  upon 
my  lap. 

I  look'd  up.  There  was  a  shadow  across  the 
entrance,  blotting  out  the  star  of  night.  'Twas  Delia, 
leaning  there  and  listening. 


X94 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE    ADVENTimB    OF   THB    HEAR81. 

The  day-spring  came  at  last,  and  in  the  sick  light  (»l 
it  I  went  down  to  the  cottage  for  spade  and  pick-axe. 
In  the  tumult  of  my  senses  I  hardly  noted  that  our 
prisoncFj  the  dragoon,  had  contrived  to  slip  his  bonds 
and  steal  off  in  the  night. 

And  then  Delia,  seeing  me  return  with  the  sad  tools 
on  my  shoulder,  spoke  for  the  first  time  : 

"First,  if  there  be  a  well  near,  fetch  me  two 
buckets  of  water,  and  leave  us  for  an  hour." 

Her  voice  was  weary  aud  chill :  so  that  I  dared 
not  thank  her,  but  did  the  errand  in  silence.  Then, 
but  a  dozen  paces  from  the  spot  where  Joan's  father 
lay,  I  dug  a  grave  and  strew'd  it  with  bracken,  and 
heather,  and  gorse-petals,  that  in  the  morning  air  smelt 
rarely.  And  soon  after  my  task  was  done,  Deha  called 
me. 

In  her  man's  dress  Joan  lay,  her  arms  crossM,  her 
black  tresses  braided,  and  her  face  gentler  than  evei 
'twas  in  Hfe.  Over  her  wounded  breast  was  a  bunch  of 
some  tiny  pink  flower,  that  grew  about  the  tor. 


TH«  ADVENTURE  OP  THE  HEAHSB.        295 

So  I  lifted  her  softly  as  once  in  this  same  place  she 
had  lifted  me,  and  bore  her  down  the  slope  to  the  giave  : 
and  there  I  buried  her,  while  Delia  knelt  and  prayed, 
and  Molly  browsed,  lifting  now  and  then  her  head 
to  look. 

When  all  was  done,  we  tum'd  away,  dry-eyed,  and 
walked  together  to  the  cottage.  The  bay  horse  was 
feeding  on  the  moor  below ;  and  finding  him  still  too 
lame  to  carry  Delia,  I  shifted  the  saddles,  and  mending 
the  broken  rein,  set  her  on  Molly.  The  cottage  door 
stood  open,  but  we  did  not  enter ;  only  looked  in,  and 
seeing  Jan  Tergagle  curl'd  beside  the  cold  hearth,  left 
him  so. 

Mile  afteir  mile  we  passed  in  silence,  Delia  riding,  and 
I  pacing  beside  her  with  the  bay.  At  last,  tortur'd 
past  bearing,  I  spoke — 

"  Delia,  have  you  nothing  to  say  ?  " 

F&r  a  while  she  seem'd  to  consider  :  then,  with  her 
eyes  fixt  on  the  hills  ahead,  answered — 

"  Much,  if  I  could  speak  :  but  all  this  has  changed 
me  somehow — 'tis,  perhaps,  that  I  have  grown  a  woman, 
having  been  a  girl — and  need  to  get  used  to  it,  and 
think.'' 

She  spoke  not  angrily,  as  I  look'd  for;  but  with  a 
painful  slowness  that  was  less  hopeful. 


296  THE    SPLENDID   SPTTR. 

"  But,"  said  I,  "  over  and  over  you  have  shown  that 

I  am  nought  to  you.      Surely " 

"  Surely  I  am  jeah^us  ?  'Tis  possible — yes,  Jack,  1 
am  but  a  woman,  and  so  'tis  certain/' 

"  Why,  to  be  jealous,  you  must  love  me  !  " 
She    looked    at    rae    straight,    and    answer'd    very 
deliberate — 

*'  Now  that  is  what  I  am  far  from  sure  of." 

"  But,  dear  Delia,  when  your  anger  has  cool'd '* 

"  My  anger  was  brief :  I  am  disappointed,  rather. 
With  her  last  breath,  almost,  Joan  said  you  were  weaker 
than  she :  she  lov'd  you  better  than  I,  and  read  you 
clearer.  You  are  weak.  Jack  '* — she  drew  in  Molly, 
and  let  her  hand  fall  on  my  shoulder  very  kindly — "  we 
have  been  comrades  for  many  a  long  mile,  and  I  hope 
are  honest  good  friends ;  wherefore  I  loathe  to  say 
a  harsh  or  ungrateful-seeming  word.  But  you  could 
not  understand  that  brave  girl,  and  you  cannot  under- 
stand me  :  for  as  yet  you  do  not  even  know  yourself. 
The  knowledge  comes  slowly  to  a  man,  I  think ;  to 
a  woman  at  one  rush.  But  when  it  comes,  I  believe 
you  may  be  strong.     Now  leave  me  to  think,  for  my  head 

is  all  of  a  tangle." 

•  •  •  •  • 

Our  pace  was  so  slow  (by  reason  of  the  lame  horse). 


THE    ADVENTUEE    OF    THE    HEAKSB.  297 

that  a  g^eat  part  of  the  afternoon  was  spent  before  we 
came  in  sight  of  the  House  of  Gleys.  And  truly 
the  yellow  sunshine  had  flung  some  warmth  about  the 
naked  walls  and  turrets,  so  that  Delia's  home-coming 
seemM  not  altogether  cheerless.  But  what  gave  us 
more  happiness  was  to  spy,  on  the  blue  water  beyond, 
the  bright  ca:^vas  of  the  Godsend,  and  to  hear  the 
cries  and  stir  of  ISvlly  Pottery's  mariners  as  they  hauled 
down  the  sails. 

And  Billy  himself  was  on  the  look-out  with  his  spy- 
glass. For  hardly  were  we  come  to  the  beach  when 
our  signal — the  waving  of  a  white  kerchief — was 
answer'd  by  another  on  board ;  and  within  half-an-hour 
a  boat  puts  off,  wherein,  as  she  drew  nearer,  I  counted 
eight  fellows. 

They  were  (besides  Billy),  Matt.  Soames,  the  master, 
Gabriel  Hutchins,  Ned  Masters,  the  black  man  Sampson, 
Ben  Halliday,  and  two  whose  full  names  I  have  forgot 
— but  one  was  call'd  Nicholas.  And,  after  many  warm 
greetings,  the  boat  was  made  fast,  and  we  climbed 
up  along  the  peninsula  together,  in  close  order,  like  a 
little  army. 

All  this  time  there  waf  no  sign  or  sound  about  the 
House  of  Gleys  to  show  that  any  one  marked  us  or  noted 
our  movements.     The  gate  w%s  closed,  the  windows  stood 


298  TH«    SPLINDID    SPUE. 

shuttered,  as  on  my  former  visit :  even  the  chimneyf 
were  smokeless.  Such  effect  had  this  desolation  on  our 
spirits,  that  drawing  near,  we  fell  to  speaking  in  whis- 
pers, and  said  Ned  Masters — 

"  Now  a  man  would  think  us  come  to  bury  some- 
body !  " 

"  He  might  make  a  worse  guess,''  I  answered. 

Marching  up  to  the  gate,  I  rang  a  loud  peal  on 
the  bell ;  and  to  my  astonishment,  before  the  echoes 
had  time  to  die  away,  the  grating  was  pusht  back, 
and  the  key  turned  in  the  lock. 

"  Step  ye  in — step  ye  in,  good  folks  !  A  sorry 
day, — a  day  of  sobs  an'  tears  an'  afflicted  blowings 
of  the  nose — when  the  grasshopper  is  a  burden  an' 
the  mourners  go  about  seeking  whom  they  may 
devour  the  funeral  meats.  Y'  are  welcome,  gentle- 
men." 

'Twas  the  voice  of  my  one-eyed  friend,  as  he  undid 
the  bolts ;  and  now  he  stood  in  the  gateway  with  a 
prodigious  black  sash  across  his  canary  livery,  so  long 
that  the  ends  of  it  swept  the  flag-stones. 

"  Is  Master  Tingcomb  within  ?  "  I  helped  Delia  to 
dismount,  and  gave  our  two  horses  to  a  stable-boy  that 
stood  shuffling  some  paces  off. 

*'  Alas  I  "  the  old  man  heav'd  a  deep  sigh,  and  with 


THB  ADYENTUES  OF  THB  HEASSB.        299 

fchat  began  to  hobble  across  the  yard.  We  trooped  after, 
wondering.     At  the  house-door  he  turned — 

"  Sirs,  there  is  cold  roasted  capons,  an'  a  ham,  an' 
radishes  in  choice  profusion  for  such  as  be  not  troubled 
wi'  the  wind  :  an'  cordial  wines — alack  the  day  I  " 

He  squeez'd  a  frosty  tear  from  his  one  eye,  and  led 
us  to  a  large  bare  hall,  hung  round  with  portraits ;  where 
was  a  table  spread  with  a  plenty  of  victuals,  and  horn- 
handled  knives  and  forks  laid  beside  plates  of  pewter ; 
and  at  the  table  a  man  in  black,  eating.  fie  had 
straight  hair  and  a  sallow  face ;  and  look'd  up  as  we 
enter'd,  but,  groaning,  in  a  moment  fell  to  again. 

**  Eat,  sirs,"  the  old  servitor  exhorted  us :  "  alas  I 
that  man  may  take  nothing  out  o*  the  world  ! " 

I  know  not  who  of  us  was  most  taken  aback.  But 
noting  Delia's  sad  wondering  face,  as  her  eyes  wander'd 
roi»nd  the  neglected  room  and  rested  on  the  tatter'd  por- 
traits, I  lost  patience. 

"  Our  business  is  with  Master  Hannibal  Tingcomb," 
gskvk  I  sharply. 

The  straight-hair'd  man  look*d  up  again,  his  mouth 
fuU  of  ham. 

"  Hush  I  " — he  held  his  fork  up,  and  shook  his  head 
sorrowfully :  and  I  wonderM  where  I  had  seen  him 
before.     ''  Hast  thou  an  angel's  wings  ?  "  he  ask'd. 


500  THB   SPLENDID   8PU». 

"  Why,  no,  sir ;  but  the  devil's  own  boots — afi  yon 
shall  find  if  I  be  not  answerM." 

"  Young  man — young  man,"  broke  in  the  one-eyed 
butler  :  "  our  minister  is  a  good  minister,  an*  speaks 
roundabout  as  such :  but  the  short  is,  that  my  master 
is  dead,  an*  in  his  coffin." 

"  The  mortal  part,"  corrected  the  minister,  cutting 
another  slice. 

"  Aye,  the  immortal  is  a-trippin*  it  i'  the  New 
Jeroosalem :  but  the  mortal  was  very  lamentably  took 
wi*  a  fit,  three  days  back — the  same  day,  young  man, 
as  thou  earnest  wi'  thy  bloody  threats." 

"  A  fit  ?  " 

"Aye,  sir,  an'  verily — such  a  fit  as  thou  thysel* 
witnessed.  Twas  the  third  attack — an'  he  cried,  *  Oh  1 
he  did,  an  '  Ah  I '—just  like  that.  'Oh!'  an'  then 
'  Ah ! '  Such  were  his  last  dyin'  speech.  '  Dear 
Master,'  says  I,  '  there's  no  call  to  die  so  hard  : '  but 
might  so  well  ha'  whistled,  for  he  was  dead  as  nails. 
A  beautiful  corpse,  sirs,  dang  my  buttons  !  " 

"  Show  him  to  us." 

"  Willingly,  young  man."  He  led  the  way  to  the 
very  room  where  Master  Tingcomb  and  I  had  held  oar 
interview.  As  before,  six  candles  were  burning  there : 
but  the  table  was  pusht  into  a  comer,  and  now  theii 


tt 
(f 


THE   ADVENTURE   OF   THE    HEAESB.  301 

light  fell  on  a  long  black  coffin,  resting  on  trestles 
in  the  centre  of  the  room.  The  coffin  was  clos'd, 
and  studded  with  silver  nails ;  on  the  lid  was  a  silver 
plate  bearing  these  words  written — "Hannibal  Tingcomb, 
MDCXLiii./'  with  a  text  of  Scripture  below. 

Why  have  you  nailM  him  down  ?  "  I  ask'd. 
Now  where  be  thy  bowels,  young  man,  to  talk  so 
unfeelin'  ?     An'  where  be  thy  experience,  not  to  know 
the  ways  o'  the  blessed  dead  in  summer-time  ?  " 

"  When  do  you  bury  him  ?  " 

"  To-morrow  forenoon.  The  spot  is  two  mile  from 
here."  He  blinked  at  me,  and  hesitated  for  a  minute. 
"  Is  it  your  purpose,  sirs,  to  attend  ?  " 

"  Be  sure  of  that,*'  I  said  grimly.  "  So  have  beds 
ready  to-night  for  all  our  company." 

"  All  thy I     Dear  sir,  consider :  where  are  beds 

to  be  found?  Sure,  thy  mariners  can  pass  the  night 
aboard  their  own  ship  ?  " 

"  So  then,"  thought  I,  "  you  have  been  on  the  look- 
out ;  "  but  Delia  replied  for  me — 

*'  I  am  Deha  Killigrew,  and  mistress  of  this  house. 
You  will  prepare  the  beds  as  you  are  told."  Whereupon 
what  does  that  decrepit  old  sinner  but  drop  upon  his 
knees? 

"Mistress    Delia  I      O   goodly   feast  for  this   one 


802  THIS    SPLENDID    8PU«. 

poor  eye !  Oh,  that  Master  Tingcomb  had  seen  thif 
dayl'* 

I  declare  the  tears  were  running  down  his  nose ;  bat 
Delia  marched  out,  cutting  short  his  hypocrisy. 

In  the  passage  she  whispered — 

"  Villainy,  Jack  !  " 

"  Hush  !  *'  I  answered,  "  and  listen  :  Master  Ting- 
comb  is  no  more  in  that  coffin  than  I." 

"  Then  where  is  he  ?  " 

"  That  is  just  what  we  are  to  discover."  As  I 
said  this  a  light  broke  on  me.  "  By  the  Lord,*'  I 
eried,  "  'tis  the  very  same  I  *' 

Delia  openM  her  eyes  wide. 

**  Wait,'*  I  said  :  "  I  begin  to  touch  ground." 

We  returned  to  the  great  hall.  The  straight-hair'd 
man  was  still  eating,  and  opposite  sat  Billy,  that  had 
not  budgM,  but  now  beckoning  to  me,  very  mysterious, 
whispered  in  a  voice  that  made  the  plates  rattle — 

"  That's — a  damned — rogue  !  " 

'Twas  discomposing,  but  the  truth.  In  fact,  I  had 
just  solved  a  puzzle.  This  holy-speaking  minister  was 
no  other  than  the  groom  I  had  seen  at  Bodmin  Fair 
holding  Master  Tingcomb's  horses. 

By  this,  the  sun  was  down,  and  Deha  soon  made  an 
excuse  to  withdraw  to  her  own  room.     Nor  was  it  long 


tU»    ADVBNTURJt    or   TH&    HBaK»JI.  30S 

before  the  rest  followed  her  example.  I  found  our 
chambers  prepared,  near  together,  in  a  wing  of  the 
house  at  some  distance  from  the  hall.  Delia's  was 
next  to  mine,  as  I  made  sure  by  knocking  at  her  door  : 
and  on  khe  other  side  of  me  slept  Billy  with  two  of  his 
crew.  My  own  bed  was  in  a  great  room  sparely  fur- 
nisht;  and  the  linen  indifferent  white.  There  was  a 
plenty  of  clean  straw,  tho',  on  the  floor,  had  I  intended 
to  sleep — which  I  did  not. 

Instead,  having  blown  out  my  light,  I  sat  on  the 
bed's  edge,  listening  to  the  big  clock  over  the  hall  as  it 
chim'd  the  quarters,  and  waiting  till  the  fellows  below 
should  be  at  their  ease.  That  Master  Tingcomb  rested 
under  the  coffin-lid,  I  did  not  believe,  in  spite  of  the 
terrifying  fit  that  I  could  vouch  for.  But  this,  if  driven 
to  it,  we  could  discover  at  the  g^ave.  The  main  busi- 
ness was  to  catch  him ;  and  to  this  end  I  meant  to 
patrol  the  buildings,  and  especially  watch  the  entrance, 
on  the  likely  chance  of  his  creeping  back  to  the  house 
(if  not  already  inside),  to  confer  with  his  fellow-rascals. 

As  eleven  o'clock  sounded,  therefore,  I  tapp'd  on 
Billy's  wall ;  and  finding  that  Matt.  Soames  was  keep- 
ing watch  (aa  we  had  agreed  upon),  slipt  off  my  boots. 
Our  rooms  were  on  the  first  floor,  over  a  straw-yard; 
and  the  distance  to  the  ground  an  easy  drop  for  a  man. 


304  THB    SPIJiNDID    SPOl. 

But  wishing  to  be  silent  as  possible,  I  knotted  two 
blankets  together,  and  strapping  the  end  round  the 
window  -  muUion,  swung  myself  down  by  one  hand, 
holding  my  boots  in  the  other. 

I  droppM  very  lightly,  and  look'd  about.  There 
was  a  faint  moon  up  and  glimmering  on  the  straw ; 
but  rmder  the  house  was  deep  shadow,  and  along 
this  I  crept.  The  straw-yard  led  into  the  court 
before  the  stables,  and  so  into  the  main  court.  All 
this  way  I  heard  no  sound,  nor  spied  so  much  as  a  speck 
of  light  in  any  window.  The  house-door  was  closed, 
and  the  bar  fastenM  on  the  great  gate  across  the  yard. 
I  tum'd  the  comer  to  explore  the  third  side  of  the 
house. 

Here  was  a  group  of  out-buildings  jutting  out,  and 
between  them  and  the  high  outer  wall  a  narrow  alley. 
'Twas  with  diflBculty  I  groped  my  way  here,  for  the 
passage  was  dark  as  pitch,  and  rendered  the  straiter  by 
a  line  of  ragged  laurels  planted  under  the  house;  so 
that  at  every  other  step  I  would  stumble,  and  run  my 
head  into  a  bush. 

I  had  done  this  for  the  eighth  time,  and  was  cursing 
under  my  breath,  when  on  a  sudden  I  heard  a  stealthy 
footfall  coming  down  the  alley  behind  me. 

"  Master  Tingcomb,  for  a  crown !  *'  thought  I,  and 


THB  ADYENTUES  OF  THE  HEA&SE.        S05 

erouch'd  to  one  side  under  a  bush.  The  footsteps  drew 
nearer.  A  dark  form  parted  the  laurels :  another 
moment,  and  I  had  it  by  the  throat. 

"  Uugh — ugh — grr !     For  the  Lord's  sake,  sir " 

I  loos'd  my  hold :  'twas  Matt.  Soames.  "  Your 
pardon,"  whispered  I;  "but  why  have  you  left  your 
post  ?  " 

"  Black  Sampson  is  watchin*,  so  I  took  the  freedom 
— ugh  1  my  poor  wind-pipe  I — to         " 

He  broke  off  to  catch  me  by  the  sleeve  and  pull  me 
down  behind  the  bush.  About  twelve  paces  ahead  I 
heard  a  door  softly  open'd  and  saw  a  shaft  of  light 
ilung  across  the  path  between  the  glistening  laurels. 
As  the  ray  touched  the  outer  wall,  I  mark'd  a  small 
postern  gate  there,  standing  open- 
Cowering  lower,  we  waited  while  a  man  might  count 
fifty.  Then  came  footsteps  crunching  the  gravel,  and  a 
couple  of  men  crossed  the  path,  bearing  a  large  chest 
between  them.  In  the  light  I  saw  the  handle  of  a 
spade  sticking  out  from  it :  and  by  his  gait  I  knew  the 
second  man  to  be  my  one-ey^d  friend. 

"  Woe^s  my  old  bones  !  '*  he  was  muttering :  "  here's 
a  fardel  for  a  man  o'  my  years  !  " 

*'  Hold  thy  breath  for  the  next  load  ! "  growl'd  the 
other  voice,  which  as  surely  was  the  good  minister's, 
V 


S06  THB    SPLENDlli    SPUil. 

They  pass'd  out  at  the  small  gate,  and  hy  the 
sounds  that  follow'd,  we  guess'd  they  were  hoisting 
their  burden  into  a  cart.  Presently  they  recross'd  the 
path  and  entered  the  house,  shutting  the  door  after  them. 

"  Now  for  it  I  "  said  I  in  Matt.'e  ear.  Gliding 
forward,  I  peep'd  out  at  the  postern  gate;  but  drew 
back  like  a  shot. 

I  had  almost  run  my  head  into  a  great  black  hearse, 
that  stood  there  with  the  door  open,  backed  against  the 
gate,  the  heavy  plumes  nodding  above  it  in  the  night 
wind. 

Who  held  the  horses  I  had  not  time  to  see:  but 
whispering  to  Matt,  to  give  me  a  leg  up,  claml)erM  in- 
side. "  Quick  I  "  I  pullM  him  after,  and  crept  for- 
ward. I  wonder'd  the  man  did  not  hear  us :  but  by 
good  luck  the  horses  were  restive,  and  by  his  maudlin 
talk  to  them  I  knew  he  was  three  parts  diunk — on  the 
funeral  wines,  doubtless. 

I  crept  along,  and  found  the  tool  -  chest  stowed 
against  the  further  end  :  so,  pulling  it  gently  cut,  w« 
got  behind  it.  Tho'  Matt,  was  the  littlest  man  of  my 
ac([uaintance,  'twas  the  work  of  the  world  to  stow  our- 
selves in  such  compass  as  to  be  hidden.  By  coiling  up  oui 
limbs  we  managed  it;  but  only  just  before  I  caught  the 
glimmer  of  a  light  and  heard  the  pair  of  rascals  returning. 


THl   ADyiNTUSI    OF   TRB    HSARSB.  307 

They  came  very  slow,  gnimbling  all  the  way ;  and 
»f  course,  I  knew  they  carried  the  coffin. 

"  AU  right,  Sim  ?  "  ask'd  the  minister. 

'*  Aye,"  piped  a  squeaky  voice  by  the  horse's  heads 
('twas  the  shuffling  stable-boy),  "  aye,  but  look  sharp ! 
Lord,  what  sounds  I^ve  heerdi  The  devil's  i'  the  hearse, 
for  sure ! " 

"Now,  Simmy,"  the  one-ey'd  gaffer  expostulated, 
"thou  dostn'  think  the  smoky  King  is  a-took  in,  same 
as  they  poor  folks  upstairs  ?  Tee-hee !  Lord,  what  a 
trick  ! — to  come  for  Master  Tingcomb,  an^  find — aw  dear ! 
— aw,  bless  my  old  ribs,  what  a  thing  is  humour  ! " 

"  Shut   up ! "   grunted   the    minister.     The  end  of 

the  coffin  was  tilted  up  into  the  hearse.  "Push,  old 
varmint  I " 

"  Aye — push,  push !  Where  be  my  young,  active 
sinews?  What  a  shrivelled  garment  is  all  my  come- 
liness !     *  The  devil  inside,'  says  Simmy — haw,  haw  I  " 

"  Bum  the  thing !  'twon't  go  in  for  the  tool-box. 
Push,  thou  cackling  old  worms  I " 

'*  Now  so  I  be,  but  my  natural  strength  is  abated. 
'Yo-heave  hoi'  like  the  salted  seafardingers  upstairs. 
Push,  push  I " 

"  Oh,  my  inwards  I "  groans  poor  Matt,  under  his 
breath,  into  whom  the  chest  was  squeezing  sorely. 


308  THl    SPLBNDID    SPUR. 


t( 


Right  at  last  I"  says  the  minister.  "Now,  Simmyj 
my  lad,  hand  the  reins  an'  jump  up.  There's  room,  an' 
you'll  be  wanted." 

The  door  was  clapt-to,  the  three  rogues  climb'd  upon 
the  seat  in  front :  and  we  started. 

I  hope  I  may  never  be  called  to  pass  such  another 
half-hour  as  that  which  followed.  As  soon  as  the  wheels 
left  tuif  tor  the  hard  road,  'twas  jolt,  jolt  all  the  way;  and 
this  lying  mainly  down-hill,  the  chest  and  coffin  came 
grinding  into  our  ribs,  and  pressing  till  we  could  scarce 
breathe.  And  I  dared  not  climb  out  over  them,  for  fear 
the  fellows  should  hear  us ;  their  chuckling  voices 
coming  quite  plain  to  us  from  the  other  side  of  the 
panel.  I  held  out,  and  comforted  Matt,  as  well  as  I 
could,  feeling  sure  we  should  find  Master  Tingcomb  at 
oui'  journey's  end.  Soon  we  climb'd  a  hill,  which  eas'd 
us  a  little ;  but  shortly  after  were  bumping  down  again, 
and  suffering  worse  than  ever. 

"  Save  us,"  moan'd  Matt.,  "  where  will  this  end  ?  " 

The  words  were  scarce  out,  when  we  turn'd  sharp 
to  the  right,  with  a  jolt  that  shook  our  teeth  together, 
roll'd  for  a  little  while  over  smooth  grass,  and  drew 
up. 

I  beard  the  fellows  climbing  down,  and  got  mv 
pistols  out. 


THB  ADVENTUEE  OP  THE  HEAESE.       309 

"Simmy/*  growl'd  the  minister,  "where's  the 
lantern  ?  " 

There  was  a  minute  or  so  of  silence,  and  then  the 
snapping  of  flint  and  steel,  and  the  sound  of  puffing. 

"Lit,  Simmy?'' 

"Aye,  here 'tis." 

"  Fetch  it  along  then." 

The  handle  of  the  door  was  tnm*d,  and  a  light 
flashed  into  the  hearse. 

"  Here,  hold  the  lantern  steady  I  Come  hither,  old 
Squeaks,  and  help  wi'  the  end.'' 

"Surely  I  will.  Well  was  I  call'd  Young  Look- 
alive  when  a  gay,  fleeting  boy.  Simmy,  my  son, 
thou'rt  sadly  drunken.  O  youth,  youth  I  Thou  wine- 
bibber,  hold  the  light  steady,  or  I'll  tell  thy  mammy  !  " 

'*  Oh,  sir,  I  do  mortally  dread  the  devil  an'  all  his 
works  I " 

"  Now,  if  ever !  '  The  devil,'  says  he — an'  Master 
Tingcomb  still  livin',  an'  in  his  own  house  awaitin'  us  I  " 

Be  sure,  his  words  were  as  good  as  a  slap  in  the  face 
to  me.  For  I  had  counted  the  hearse  to  lead  me  straight 
to  Master  Tingcomb  himself.  '  In  his  own  house,'  too  ! 
A  fright  seiz'd  me  for  Delia.  But  first  I  must  deal  with 
these  scoundrels,  who  already  were  dragging  out  the  coffin. 

"  Steady  there ! "  calls  the  minister.    The  coffin  was 


310  TTTB    SPLFVmD    SPTTIL 

more  than  half- way  outside.  I  levell'd  my  pistol  ovei 
the  edge  of  the  tool-chest,  and  fetched  a  yell  fit  to  wake 
a  ghost — at  the  same  time  letting  flj  straight  for  the 
minister. 

In  the  flash  of  the  discharge,  I  saw  him,  half-tum'd, 
his  eyes  starting,  and  mouth  agape.  He  clapt  his  hand 
to  his  shoulder.  On  top  of  his  wild  shriek,  broke 
out  a  chorus  of  screams  and  oaths,  in  the  middle  of 
which  the  coffin  tilted  up  and  went  over  with  a  crash. 
"  Satan — Satan  I  "  bawled  Simmy,  and,  dropping  the 
lantern,  took  to  his  heels  for  dear  life.  At  the  same 
moment  the  horses  took  fright;  and  before  I  could 
scramble  out,  we  were  tearing  madly  away  over  the  turf 
and  into  the  darkness.     I  had  made  a  sad  mess  of  it. 

It  must  have  been  a  full  minute  before  the  hedge 
tum*d  them,  and  gave  me  time  to  drop  out  at  the  back 
and  run  to  their  heads.  Matt.  Soames  was  after  me, 
quick  as  thought,  and  very  soon  we  mastered  them,  and 
gathering  up  the  reins  from  between  their  legs,  led 
them  back.  As  luck  would  have  it,  the  lantern  had 
not  been  quencht  by  the  fall,  but  lay  flaring,  and  so 
guided  us.  Also  a  curious  bright  radiance  seem'd 
growing  on  the  sky,  for  which  I  could  not  account. 
The  three  knaves  were  nowhere  to  be  seen,  but  I  heard 
iihflir  footsteps  scampering  in  the  distance,  and  Simmy 


TKB    ASVINTUKI    Of   THJi   H1AS8S.  811 

still  yelling  "  Satan ! "  I  knew  my  bullet  had  hit  the 
minister ;  but  he  had  got  away,  and  I  never  set  eyes  on 
any  of  the  three  again. 

Leaving  Matt,  to  mind  the  horses,  I  caught  up  the 
lantern,  and  looked  about  me.  As  well  as  could  be  seen, 
we  were  in  a  narrow  meadow  between  two  hills,  whereof 
the  black  slopes  rose  high  above  us.  Some  paces  to  the 
right,  my  ear  caught  the  noise  of  a  stream  running. 

I  turn'd  the  lantern  on  the  coffin,  which  lay  face 
downwards,  and  with  a  gasp  took  in  the  game  those 
precious  rogues  had  been  playing.  For,  with  the  fall  of 
it,  the  boards  (being  but  thin)  were  burst  clean  asunder; 
and  on  both  sides  had  tumbled  out  silver  cups,  silver 
salt-cellars,  silver  plates  and  dishes,  that  in  the  lantern's 
rays  sparkled  prettily  on  the  turf.  The  coffin,  in  short, 
was  stuffed  with  Belial's  silverware. 

I  had  pick* d  ap  a  great  flagon,  and  was  turning  it 
over  to  read  the  inscription,  when  Matt.  Soames  called 
to  me,  and  pointed  over  the  hill  in  front.  Above  it  the 
whole  sky  was  red  and  glowing. 

•*  Sure,"  said  he,  "  'tis  a  fire  out  yonder  I  " 
*'  God  help  us,  Matt.— 'tis  the  House  of  Gleys  I  " 
It  took    but  two   minutes   to  toss  the  silver  back 
into  the  hearse.     I  clapp'd-to  the  door,  and  snatching 
the  reins,  sprang  upon  the  driver's  seat. 


ni 


CHAPTER    XX. 

THl    ADVINTITRI    OF    THB    LBDGl  ;     AND    HOW   I    8H001 
HANDS    WITH    ITT    OOMRADB. 

Wi  had  some  ado  to  find  the  gate :  but  no  sooner  were 
through,  and  upon  the  high  road,  than  I  lashM  the 
horses  up  the  hill  at  a  gallop.  To  guide  us  between  the 
dark  hedges  we  had  only  our  lantern  and  the  glare 
ahead.  The  dishes  and  cups  clashed  and  rattled  as  the 
hearse  bump'd  in  the  ruts,  swaying  wildly :  a  dozen 
times  Matt,  was  near  being  pitched  clean  out  of  his  seat. 
With  my  legs  planted  firm,  I  flogged  away  like  a  mad- 
man ;  and  like  mad  creatures  the  horses  tore  upward. 

On  the  summit  a  glance  showed  us  all — the  wild 
crimson'd  sky — the  sea  running  with  lines  of  fire — and 
against  it  the  inky  headland  whereon  the  House  of 
Gleys  flar'd  like  a  beacon.  Already  from  one  wing — our 
wing — a  leaping  column  of  flame  whirled  up  through 
the  roof,  and  was  swept  seaward  in  smoke  and  sparks, 
I  mark'd  the  coast-line,  the  cliff-tracks,  the  masts  and 
hull  of  the  Godsend  standing  out,  clear  as  day  and 
nearer,  the  yellow  light  flickering  over  the  fields  of 
young  com.     We  saw  all  this,  and  then  wer^  plunging 


THl  ADVENTTJRB  OF  THE  LEDGE.         813 

down  hill,  with  the  blaze  full  ahead  of  us.     The  heavy 
reek  of  it  was  flung  in  our  nostrils  as  we  galloped. 

At  the  bottom  we  caught  up  a  group  of  men  run- 
ning. 'Twas  a  boatload  come  from  the  ship  to  help. 
As  our  horses  swept  past  them,  one  or  two  came  to  a 
terrified  halt:  but  presently  were  running  hard  again 
after  us. 

The  great  gate  stood  open.  I  drove  straight 
into  the  bright-lit  yard,  shouting  "  Delia ! — where 
is  Delia?" 

"  Here ! "  calPd  a  voice ;  and  from  a  group  that 
stood  imder  the  glare  of  the  window  came  my  dear 
mistress  running. 

"  All  safe,  Jack  !    But  what "     She  drew  back 

from  our  strange  equipage. 

'*  All  in  good  time.  First  tell  me — how  came  the 
are?" 

"Why,  foul  work,  as  it  seems.  All  I  know  is  I 
was  sleeping,  and  awoke  to  hear  the  black  seaman  ham- 
mering on  my  door.  Jumping  up,  I  found  the  room 
full  of  smoke,  and  escapM.  The  rooms  beneath,  they 
say,  were  stuffed  with  straw,  and  the  yard  outside  heap'd 
also  with  straw,  and  blazing.  Ben  Halliday  found  two 
oil-jars  lying  there — " 

"  Are  the  horses  out  ?  " 


814  THl    BPI^NDID    8PU». 

*'  Oh,  Jack — I  do  not  know !  Shamo  on  me  to  for- 
get them  ! " 

I  ran  towards  the  stable.  Already  the  roof  was 
ablaze,  and  the  straw-yard,  beyond,  a  very  furnace. 
Rushing  in,  I  found  the  two  horses  cowering  in  theii 
stalls,  bathM  in  sweat,  and  squealing.  But  'twas  all 
fright.  So  I  fetched  Molly's  saddle,  and  spoke  to 
her,  and  set  it  across  her  back  :  and  the  sweet  thing  was 
quiet  in  a  moment,  turning  her  head  to  rub  ray  sleeve 
gently  with  her  muzzle :  and  followed  me  out  like  a 
lamb.  The  bay  gave  more  trouble ;  but  I  sooth'd  him 
in  the  same  manner,  and  patting  his  neck,  led  him,  too, 
into  safety. 

By  this,  all  hope  to  save  the  house  was  over :  for  the 
well  in  the  court  yielded  but  twenty  buckets  before  it 
ran  dry,  and  after  that  no  water  was  to  be  had.  Of  the 
wing  where  the  fire  burst  out  only  the  walls  stood,  and  a 
few  oaken  rafters,  that  one  by  one  came  tumbling  and 
crashing.  The  flames  had  spread  along  the  roof,  and 
were  now  licking  the  ceiling  of  the  hall  and  spouting 
around  the  clock-tower.  In  the  roar  and  hubbub, 
Billy's  men  work'd  like  demons,  dragging  out  chairs, 
chests,  and  furniture  of  all  kinds,  which  they  strewed  in 
the  yard,  returning  with  shouts  foi  more.  One  was 
tearing  down  the   portraits  in  the  hall:  another  was 


THE  ADVENTURE  OP  THE  LEDGE.         315 

pulling  out  the  great  dresser  from  the  kitchen  :  a  third 
had  found  a  pile  of  tapestry  and  came  staggering  forth 
under  the  load  of  it. 

"  I   had  fastened  the  horses  by  the  gate,  and  was 
ready  to  join  in  the  work,  when  a  shout  was  raised — 

"  Billy  ! — Where's  Billy  Pottery  ?     Has    any   seen 
the  skipper  ?  " 

"  Sure/'  I   call'd,   "  you  don't   say  he   was   never 
alarmM  1 " 

"  Black  Sampson  was  in  his  room — where's  Black 
Sampson  ?  " 

"  Here  I  be  ! "  cried  a  voice.     "  To  be  sure  I  woke 
the  skipper  before  any  o'  ye." 

"  Then   where's   he   hid  ?     Did   any  see  him  come 
out?" 

"Now,  that  we  have  not  I "  answer'd  one  or  tw^o. 
I  stood  by  the  house-door  shouting  these  questions 
to  the  men  inside,  when  a  hand  was  laid  on  my  arm, 
and  there  in  the  shadow  waited  Billy  himself,  with  a 
mighty  curious  twinkle  in  his  eye.  He  put  a  finger 
up  and  signed  that  I  should  follow. 

We  pass'd  round  the  out-buildings  where,  three 
lours  before,  Matt.  Soames  and  I  had  hid  together.  I 
was  minded  to  stop  and  pull  on  my  boots,  that  were  hid 
here  :  but  (and  this  was  afterwards  the  saving  of  me) 


816  THE    SPLKXDID    SI  UR. 

on  second  thought*  let  them  lie,  and  followed  Billy,  who 
now  led  me  out  by  the  poetern  gate. 

Without  speech  we  steppM  across  the  turf,  he  a  pace 
or  two  ahead.  A  night-breeze  was  blowing  here,  deli- 
cious after  the  heat  of  the  fire.  We  were  walking 
quickly  towards  the  east  side  of  the  headland,  and 
soon  the  blaze  behind  flung  our  shadows  right  to  the 
cliff's  edge,  for  which  Billy  made  straight,  as  if  to  fling 
himself  over. 

But  when,  at  the  very  verge,  he  pulled  up,  I  became 
enlijjhten'd.  At  our  feet  was  an  iron  bar  driven  into 
the  soil,  and  to  it  a  stout  rope  knotted,  that  ran  over  a 
block  and  disappear'd  down  the  cliff.  I  knelt  and,  pull- 
ing at  it  softly,  looked  up.     It  came  easy  in  the  hand. 

Billy,  with  the  glare  in  his  face,  nodded  :  and  bend- 
ing to  my  ear,  for  once  achieved  a  whisper. 

"  Saw  one  stealing  hither — an*  foUow'd.  A  man 
wi'  a  limp  foot — went  over  the  side  like  a  cat.*' 

I  must  have  appeared  to  doubt  this  good  fortune,  for 
he  added — 

"  'Be  a  truth-speakin'  man  i'  the  main.  Jack — 'lay 
over  'pon  my  belly,  and  spied  a  ledge — fifty  feet  down 
or  less — 'reckon  there  be  a  way  thence  to  the  foot. 
Dear,  now !  what  a  rampin',  tearin'  sweat  is  this  ?  " 

For,  fast  as  I  could  tug,  I  was  hauling  up  the  rope. 


THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  LEDGB.        817 

Near  sixty  feet  came  up  before  I  reached  the  end — ^a 
thick  twisted  knot.  I  rove  a  long  noose ;  pulled  it  over 
my  head  and  shoulders,  and  made  Billy  understand  he 
was  to  lower  me. 

"  Sit  i^  the  noose,  lad,  an'  hold  round  the  knot. 
For  sign  to  hoist  again,  tug  the  rope  hard.     I  can  hold." 

He  paid  it  out  carefully  while  I  stepp'd  to  the  edge. 
With  the  noose  about  my  loins  I  thrust  myself  gently 
over,  and  in  a  trice  hung  swaying. 

On  three  sides  the  sky  compassed  me — wild  and 
red,  save  where  to  eastward  the  dawn  was  paling :  on 
the  fourth  the  dark  rocky  face  seemM  gliding  upwards  as 
Billy  lowered.  Far  below  I  heard  the  wash  of  the  sea, 
and  could  just  spy  the  white  spume  of  it  glimmering 
It  stole  some  of  the  heart  out  of  me,  and  I  took  my 
eyes  off  it. 

Some  feet  below  the  top,  the  cliff  fetch'd  a  slant 
Inwards,  so  that  I  dangled  a  full  three  feet  out  from  the 
face.  As  a  boy  I  had  adventured  something  of  this  sort 
on  the  north  sides  of  Gable  and  the  Pillar,  and  onoe 
(after  a  nest  of  eaglets)  on  the  Mickledore  cliffs:  but 
then  'twas  daylight.  Now,  tho'  I  saw  the  ledge  under 
me,  about  a  third  of  the  way  down,  it  look''d,  in  the 
darkness,  to  be  so  extremely  narrow,  that  'tis  probable 
I  should  have  calFd  out  to  Billy  to  draw  me  up  but  for 


S18  THX    SPLENDID   SPUR. 

the  certainty  that  he  would  never  hear :  so  instead  1 
held  very  tight  and  wishM  it  over. 

Down  I  swayed  (Billy  letting  out  the  rope  very 
steady),  and  at  last  swung  myself  inward  to  the  ledge, 
gained  a  footing,  and  took  a  glance  round  before  slipping 
off  the  rope. 

I  stood  on  a  shelf  of  sandy  rock  that  wound  round 
the  cliff  some  way  to  my  left,  and  then,  as  I  thought, 
broke  sharply  away.  'Twas  mainly  about  a  yard  in 
width,  but  in  places  no  more  than  two  feet.  In  the 
growing  light  I  noted  the  face  of  the  headland  ribb'd 
with  several  of  these  ledges,  of  varying  length,  but  all 
hollowed  away  underneath  (as  I  suppose  by  the  sea  in 
former  ages),  so  that  the  cliff's  summit  overhung  the 
base  by  a  great  way  :  and  peering  over  I  saw  the  wavei 
creeping  right  beneath  me. 

Now  all  this  while  I  had  not  let  Master  Tingcomb 
out  of  my  mind.  So  I  slipt  off  the  rope  and  left  ii 
to  dangle,  while  I  crept  forward  to  explore,  keeping 
well  against  the  rock  and  planting  mj  feet  with 
great  caution. 

I  believe  I  was  twenty  minutes  taking  as  many 
■teps,  when  at  the  point  where  the  ledge  broke  off  I  saw 
the  ends  of  an  iron  ladder  sticking  up,  and  close  beside 
it  a  great  hole  in  the  rock,  which  till  now  the  curve  of 


THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  LEDGE.        819 

the  cliff  had  hid.     The  ladder  no  doubt  stood  on  a  second 
shelf  below. 

I  was  pausing  to  consider  this,  when  a  bright  ray 
streamed  across  the  sea  towards  me,  and  the  red  rim  of  the 
sun  rose  out  of  the  waters,  outfacing  the  glow  on  the 
headland,  and  rending  the  film  of  smoke  that  hung  like 
a  curtain  about  the  horizon.  'Twas  as  if  by  alchemy 
that  the  red  ripples  melted  to  gold ;  and  I  stood  watching 
with  a  child^s  delight. 

I  heard  the  sound  of  a  footstep  :  and  facM  round. 

Before  me,  not  sii  paces  off,  stood  Hannibal  Ting- 
comb. 

He  was  issuing  from  the  hole  with  a  sack  on  his 
shoulder,  and  sneaking  to  descend  the  steps,  when  he 
threw  a  sflance  behind — and  saw  me  ! 

Neither  spoke.  With  a  face  grey  as  ashes  he  turnM 
very  slowly,  until  in  the  unnatural  light  we  looked 
straight  into  each  other's  eyes.  His  never  blink'd,  but 
stared — stared  horribly,  while  the  veins  swell'd  black  on 
his  forehead  and  his  lips  workM,  attempting  speech. 
No  words  came — only  a  long-drawn  sob,  deep  down  in 
his  throat. 

And  then,  letting  slip  the  sack,  he  flung  his  arms 
up,  ran  a  pace  or  two  towards  me,  and  tumbled  on  his 
Face  in  a  fit.     His  left  shoulder  hung  over  the  verge ', 


S£0  THB    SPLENDID    8PU». 

his  legs  sHpp'd.  In  a  trice  he  was  hanging  by  his  armfc, 
his  old  distorted  face  turned  up,  and  a  froth  about  his 
lips.  I  made  a  step  to  save  him  :  and  then  jumpM  back, 
flattening  myself  against  the  rock. 

The  ledge  was  breaking. 

I  saw  a  seam  gape  at  my  feet.  I  saw  it  widen  and 
spread  to  right  and  left.  I  heard  a  ripping,  rending 
noise — a  rush  of  stones  and  earth :  and,  clawing  the  air, 
with  a  wild  screech,  Master  Tingcomb  pitch'd  back- 
wai-ds,  head  over  heels,  into  space. 

Then  followed  silence  :  then  a  horrible  splash  as  he 
struck  the  water,  far  below  :  then  again  a  slipping  and 
trickling,  as  more  of  the  ledge  broke  away — at  first 
a  pebble  or  two  sliding — a  dribble  of  earth — next,  a 
crash  and  a  cloud  of  dust.  A  last  stone  ran  loose  and 
dropped.  Then  fell  a  silence  so  deep  I  could  catch  the 
roar  of  the  flames  on  the  hill  behind. 

Standing  there,  my  arms  thrown  back  and  fingers 
8])read  against  the  rock,  I  saw  a  wave  run  out,  widen, 
and  lose  itself  on  the  face  of  the  sea.  Under  my  feet 
but  eight  inches  of  the  cornice  remained.  My  toes 
stuck  forward  over  the  gulf. 

A  score  of  startled  gulls  with  their  cries  calFd  me  to 
myself.  T  open'd  my  eyes,  that  had  shut  in  sheer  giddi- 
ness.    Close  on  my  left  the  ledge  was  broke  back  to  the 


THE   ADVENTURE    OP   THE    LEDGE.  321 

rery  base,  cutting  me  off  by  twelve  feet  from  that  part 
where  the  ladder  still  rested.  No  man  could  jump  it, 
standing.  To  the  right  there  was  no  gap  :  but  in  one 
place  only  was  the  footing  over  ten  inches  wide,  and  at 
the  end  my  rope  hung  over  the  sea,  a  good  yard  away 
from  the  edge. 

I  shut  my  eyes  and  shouted. 

There  was  no  answer.  In  the  dead  stillness  I  could 
hear  the  rafters  falling  in  the  House  of  Gleys,  and  the 
shouts  of  the  men  at  work.  The  Godsend  lay  around 
the  point,  out  of  sight.  And  Billy,  deaf  as  a  stone,  sat 
no  doubt  by  his  rope,  placidly  waiting  my  signal. 

I  screamed  again  and  again.  The  rock  flung  my 
voice  seaward-  Across  the  summit  vaulted  above,  there 
drifted  a  puff  of  brown  smoke.     No  one  heard. 

A  while  of  weakness  followed.  My  brain  reePd : 
my  fingers  dug  into  the  rock  behind  till  they  bled.  I 
bent  forward — forward  over  the  heaving  mist  through 
which  the  sea  crawl'd  like  a  snake.  It  beckon*d  me 
down,  that  crawling  water.   .    .    . 

I  stiffened  my  knees  and  the  faintness  pass'd.  I  must 
not  look  down  again.  It  flashed  on  me  that  Delia  had 
called  me  weak  :  and  I  hardened  my  heart  to  fight  it  out. 
I  would  face  round  to  the  cliff  and  work  towards  the  rope. 

'Twas  a  hateful  moment  while  I  turned  :   for  to  do 

¥     ■ 


322  THE    SPLENDID    SPUE. 

SO  I  must  let  go  with  one  hand.  And  the  rock  thrust 
me  outwards.  But  at  last  I  faced  the  cliff ;  waited  a 
moment  while  my  knees  shook;  and  moving  a  foot 
cautiously  to  the  left,  began  to  work  my  way  along,  an 
inch  at  a  time. 

Looking  down  to  guide  my  feet,  I  saw  the  waves 
twinkling  beneath  my  heels.  My  palms  press'd  the 
rock.  At  every  three  inches  I  was  fain  to  rest  my  fore- 
head against  it  and  gasp.  Minute  after  minute  went 
by — endless,  intolerable,  and  still  the  rope  seem'd  as 
far  away  as  ever.  A  cold  sweat  ran  off  me :  a  nausea 
possessed  me.  Once,  where  the  ledge  was  widest,  I 
sank  on  one  knee,  and  hung  for  a  while  incapable  of 
movement.  But  a  black  horror  drove  me  on :  and  after 
the  first  dizzy  stupor  my  wits  were  mercifully  wide 
awake.  Sure,  *twas  God's  miracle  preserved  them  to 
me,  who  looking  at  the  sea  and  cliff  and  pitiless  sun, 
had  almust  denied  Him  and  his  miracles  together. 

All  the  way  I  kept  shouting  :  and  so,  for  half  an  hour, 
inch  by  inch,  shuffled  forward,  until  1  stood  under  the 
rope.     Then  I  had  to  turn  again. 

The  rock,  tho'  still  overarching,  here  pressM  out  less 
than  before :  so  that,  working  round  on  the  ball  of  my 
foot,  I  managed  pretty  easily.  But  how  to  get  th« 
rope?      Ab  1  said,    it   hung  a  good    yard  beyond   the 


THE  ADVENTURE  OP  THE  LEDGE.        823 

ledge,  the  noose  dangling  some  two  feet  below  it. 
With  my  finger-tips  against  the  cliff,  I  leant  out  and 
clutched  at  it.  I  missM  it  by  a  foot.  "Shall  I  jump?'' 
thought  I,  "  or  bide  here  till  help  comes  ?  " 

'Twas  a  giddy,  awful  leap.  But  the  black  horror 
was  at  my  heels  now.  In  a  minute  more  'twould  have 
me  ;  and  then  my  fall  was  certain.  I  calFd  up  Delia's 
face  as  she  had  taunted  me.  I  bent  my  knees,  and, 
leaving  my  hold  of  the  rock,  sprang  forward — out,  over 
the  sea. 

I  saw  it  twinkle,  fathoms  below.  My  right  hand 
touch'd — grasp'd  the  rope :  then  my  left,  as  I  swung 
far  out  upon  it.  I  slipt  an  inch — three  inches — then 
held,  swaying  wildly.  My  foot  was  in  the  noose.  I 
heard  a  shout  above :  and,  as  I  dropp'd  to  a  sitting 
posture,  the  rope  began  to  rise. 

"  Quick  !     Oh,  BiUy,  pull  quick  !  " 

He  could  not  hear ;  yet  tugg'd  like  a  Trojan. 

"  Now,  here's  a  time  to  keep  a  man  sittin' ! "  he 
shouted,  as  he  caught  my  hand,  and  pull'd  me  full 
length  on  the  turf.     "  Why,  lad — hast  seen  a  ghost  ?  " 

There  was  no  answer.  The  black  horror  had  over- 
taken me  at  last. 

1^  ¥r  ¥r  *  * 

They  carried  me  to  a  shed  in  the  great  court  of  Gley*. 


324  THE    SPLENDID    8PU1.. 

and  8t't  me  on  straw  :  and  there,  till  far  into  the  after- 
noon, I  lay  betwixt  swooning  and  trembling,  while 
Delia  bath'd  my  head  in  water  from  the  sea,  for  no 
other  was  to  be  had.  And  about  four  in  the  afternoon 
the  horror  left  me,  bo  that  I  sat  up  and  told  my  story 
pretty  steadily. 

"  What  of  the  house  ?  "  1  ask*d,  when  the  tale  was 
done,  and  a  company  sent  to  search  the  east  cliff  from 
the  beach. 

"  All  perish 'd  !  "  said  Delia,  and  then  smiling,  "  I  am 
houseless  as  ever.  Jack." 

"  And  have  the  same  good  friends." 

"That's  true.  But  listen — for  while  you  have  lain 
h( ,  e,  Billy  and  I  have  put  our  heads  together.  He  is 
bound  for  Brest,  he  says,  and  has  agreed  to  take  m(» 
and  such  poor  chattels  as  are  saved,  to  Brittany,  where 
T  know  my  mother's  kin  will  have  a  welcome  for  me, 
until  these  troubles  be  passM.  Already  the  half  of  my 
goods  is  aboard  the  Godsend,  and  a  letter  writ  to  Sir 
Bevill,  bogging  him  to  appoint  an  honest  man  as  my 
steward.     What  think  you  of  the  plan  ?  " 

"  It  seems  a  good  plan,"  I  answered  slowly :  "  the 
England  that  now  is,  is  no  place  fc/  a  woman.  When 
do  you  sail  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  you  are  recovered.  Jack." 


THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  LEDGE.        325 

*'  Then  that's  now."  I  got  on  my  feet,  and  drew 
on  my  boots  (that  Matt.  Soames  had  found  in  the  laurel 
bushes  and  brought).  My  knees  trembled  a  bit,  but 
nothing  to  matter. 

"  Art  looking  downcast,  Jack." 

Said  I :  "  How  else  should  I  look,  that  am  to  lose 
thee  in  an  hour  or  more  ?  " 

She  made  no  reply  to  this,  but  turned  away  to  givt 
an  order  to  the  sailors. 

The  last  of  Delia's  furniture  was  hardly  aboard, 
when  we  heard  great  shouts  of  joy,  and  saw  the  men 
returning  that  had  gone  to  search  the  cliff.  They  bore 
between  them  three  large  oak  coffers :  which  being 
broke,  we  came  on  an  immense  deal  of  old  plate  and 
jewels,  besides  over  £300  in  coinM  money.  There  were 
two  more  left  behind,  they  said,  besides  several  small 
bags  of  gold.  The  path  up  the  cliff  was  hard  to  climb, 
and  would  have  been  impossible,  but  for  the  iron  ladder 
they  found  ready  fixt  for  Master  Tingcomb's  descent. 
In  the  hole  (that  could  not  be  seen  from  the  beach,  the 
shelf  hiding  it)  was  tackle  for  lowering  the  chest :  and 
below  a  boat  moor'd,  and  now  left  high  and  dry  by  the 
tide.  Doubtless,  the  arch-rascal  had  waited  for  his 
comrades  to  return,  whom  Matt.  Soames  and  I  had 
scar'd    out   of  all    stomach   to    do   so.     His  body  was 


326  THB    SPLENDID    8PT7B,. 

nowhere  found.  The  sea  had  wash'd  it  off :  bui  the  sack 
they  recovered,  and  found  to  hold  the  choicest  of  Delia's 
heir-looms.  Within  an  hour  the  remaining  coffers  and 
the  money-bags  were  safe  in  the  vessel's  hold. 

*  *  ^f  ^  4(- 

The  sun  was  setting,  as  Delia  and  I  stood  on  the 
beach,  beside  the  boat  that  was  to  take  her  from  me. 
Aboard  the  Godsend  I  could  hear  the  anchor  lifting,  and 
the  men  singing,  as,  holding  MoUy^s  bridle,  I  held  out 
my  hand  to  the  dear  maid  who  with  me  had  shar'd  so 
many  a  peril. 

"  Is  there  any  more  to  come  ?  "  she  ask^d. 

*'  No,"  said  I,  and  God  knows  my  heart  was  heavy  : 
*'  nothing  to  come  but  '  Farewell ! '  ** 

She  laid  her  small  hand  in  my  big  palm,  and  glanc- 
ing up,  said  very  pretty  and  demure — 

"  And  thall  I  leave  my  best  ?  Wilt  not  come,  too, 
dear  Jack?" 

"Delia!"  I  stammer'd.  "Wbat  ub  this?  I  thought 
you  lov'd  me  not." 

"  And  so  did  I,  Jack  :  and  thinking  so,  I  found  I 
loved  thee  better  than  ever.  Fie  on  thee,  now  I  May 
not  a  maid  change  her  mind  without  being  forced  to 
guch  unseemly,  brazen  words  ?  **  And  she  heaved  • 
mock  sigh. 


•*  PAEEWELL  I  *'  827 

But  as  I  stood  and  held  that  little  hand,  I  seemM 
across  the  very  mist  of  happiness  to  read  a  sentence 
written,  and  spoke  it,  perforce  and  slow,  as  with  another 
man's  mouth — 

"  Delia,  you  only  have  I  lov'd,  and  will  love  I 
Blithe  would  I  be  to  live  with  you,  and  to  serve  you 
would  blithely  die.  In  sorrow,  then,  call  for  me,  or  in 
trust  abide  me.     But  go  with  you  now — I  may  not.*' 

She  lifted   her  eyes,    and    looking    full  into  mine, 

repeated    slowly   the   verse   we  had   read  at    our  first 

meeting — 

" '  In  a  wife's  kp,  as  in  a  grave, 

Man's  airy  notions  mix  with  earth * 

— thou  hast  found  it,  sweetheart — thou  hast  found  the 
Splendid  Spur ! " 

She  broke  off,  and  clapp'd  her  hands  together  very 
merrily ;  and  then,  as  a  tear  started — 

"  But  thou'lt  come  for  me,  ere  long.  Jack  ?  Else  I 
am  sure  to  blame  some  other  woman.     Stay " 

She  drew  off  her  ring,  and  slipt  it  on  my  little 
finger. 

"  There's  my  token  !  Now  give  me  one  to  weep  and 
be  glad  over." 

Having  no  trinkets,  I  gave  my  glove :  and  she 
kiss'd  it  twice,  and  put  it  in  her  bosom. 


328  THE    SPLENDID    SPUR. 

"  I  have  no  need  of  this  ring,"  said  I :  *'  for  look  !  *' 
and  I  drew  forth  the  lock  I  had  cut  from  her  dear 
hea<l,  that  morning  among  the  alders  by  J^ennet  side, 
and  worn  ever  since  over  my  heart.  "  Wilt  marry  no 
man  till  I  come  ?  " 

"Now,  that's  too  hard  a  promise/'  said  she,  laughing, 
and  shaking  her  curls. 

"  Too  hard  I  " 

"  Why,  of  course.  Listen,  sweetheart — a  true 
woman  will  not  change  her  mind  :  but,  oh  I  she  dearlji 
loves  to  be  able  to  I  So,  bating  this,  here's  my  hand 
upon  it — now,  fie.  Jack  !  and  before  all  these  manners  I 

—well,  then  if  thou  must " 

«  *  *  *  * 

I  watch'd  her  standing  in  the  stern  and  waving,  till 
■he  was  under  the  Godsend's  side :  then  tum'd,  and 
mounting  Molly,  rode  inland  to  the  wan. 


LOS  A^ 
STATE  'OOL 


AA    000  368  377 


